The green light has been given for community football pitch plans which will see artificial grass laid on an existing playing field.

In early December, Haverhill Community Sports Association submitted an application for the creation of a 3G Artificial Grass Pitch.

The proposals detail plans for a steel storage container, six 15m high floodlights and 106m by 70m pitch.

The land can be divided in four different ways: a 11v11 youth pitch, two 9v9 pitches, two 7v7 pitches and four 5v5 pitches. 

The planning statement adds: "The replacement artificial football pitch will mean that the site will be capable of carrying more games over the season, as 3G artificial pitches are more durable than grass pitches."

The new ground is to be built on The New Croft, which is an existing, grassed playing field owned by West Suffolk Council near Samuel Ward Academy.

Currently, it provides sports and football facilities that can be hired by the community and has two member clubs - Haverhill Rovers FC and Haverhill Borough FC.

The on-site clubhouse is also hired out for other purposes, such as yoga and fitness classes.