A NEW £56,500 multi-games area has been unveiled in a Hampshire village.

And a sports day marked the official opening of the King’s Somborne Parish Council-led project with a tournament which included football and basketball coaching.

Test Valley’s Mayor Jan Lovell opened the games area at King’s Somborne Recreation Ground and she was joined by Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes along with King’s Somborne Parish Council chairman Richard Harwood, the clerk Peter Storey, parish councillors and villagers for the celebrations.

Funding for the multigames area came from Test Valley Borough Council (£23,953) the Veolia Environmental Trust (£23,150), King’s Somborne Parish Council (£5,397), Hampshire Playing Fields Association (£2,000), Aster Communities (£1,000) along with £1,000 from Hampshire County councillor Andrew Gibson who represents the Test Valley Central division comprising King’s Somborne.

The complex wincludes a five-a-side football facility, basketball, tennis, hockey and cricket facilities Test Valley's cabinet spokesman for community and leisure Tony Ward who lives in the village said “it is great that the new multi-use games area is now compl ete.”

He added: “We look forward to it being used for GRAND OPENING: Launch of the nNew outdoor multi-use area at Kings Somborne years to come.”