After an agonising two and a half year wait, a junior football club in west Cumbria finally saw the opening of their brand-new pitch.

The renovated piece of "old derelict ground" off Mossbay Road, which will be used by Workington Diamonds girls and boys was officially opened on Wednesday evening.

To get the pitch renovated, 20 tonnes of stone was hand picked off by players, parents and coaches; 800kg of top-soil was been put in, and the ground was seeded and levelled.

Craig Lewis from the Cumberland FA, who supported the club with the renovation of the pitch, was also on hand to officially open the pitch.

Coach, Andy Rush, said: "It was a real sense of achievement.

"It's great for the kids to have their own ground that they can go and use whenever they want."

It was up to the kids to choose the name of their new pitch, and Andy said under-8s player, Gracie Bragg made a good decision in opting for 'The Den'.

The ground, which is fenced off to protect it, is also complete with new facilities including toilets, changing rooms and a cafe area.

Andy added: "We're getting good feedback from the community, and there are people who walk past it who used to play on there in the 60s and 70s.

"It's nice to see it being brought back to life as a football pitch."

Although they lost the first game 4 - 1, the Diamonds were still felt like winners knowing they have new pitch to call their own.

Andy added: "They've got a place they can call home now."

He said that it was a "relief" to get the pitch finished.

"It's a sense of achievement.

"I feel as if we've given something back to the community.

"I want to extend a big thank you to the FA for their continued support, and to all the kids and coaches who were part of project.

"I also want to say thank you to a very understanding wife."

Ahead of the first game, Andy was told that he was to come straight back home after work.