At long last work has finally started on a £1m sports complex ending a community's 15 year wait.

Machines rolled on to land at the back of Barkerend's Karmand Centre this week to make way for the scheme that will boast state-of-the-art facilities including a synthetic flood-lit football pitch, athletics running track, tennis courts and a cricket pitch.

There will also be a pavilion with changing rooms as well as conference, catering and meeting rooms and business units which will be hired out to make money for the venture.

The complex which supporters say will become a centre of sporting excellence has been funded by £300,000 from Bradford Council, £298,000 from Sport England, £42,000 from the ward Investment Fund and the rest from the Karmand Centre itself.

Sikander Mahmood who is chairman of the Karmand Community Centre said: "My first word is phew! It has taken a lot of hard work to make this happen and it's only own to all the support from he community, the residents and our partners who have shared our dream that we are getting what we have been waiting for.

"There is a lot of sporting talent and our door will be open to anyone who wants to come and join us and support us."

Ward Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq said: "After all this time I'm pleased that finally work gas started on this project - it's long overdue.

"I've spent almost 20 years of my council career asking for this land to be developed for recreational purposes.

"Finally the dream is becoming a reality, it's a new start."

He also said people living next to the land would be relieved that the area had been fenced off and would stop people from dumping rubbish which had turned the ground into an eyesore.

Andy Lowde from Bradford-based Thomas Crompton contractors, said: "It should take us about 14 weeks to get the land level and do the basic structure work, then it's a case of putting the seed down and letting the grass grow.

"The multi-use area and the parking should all be done by Christmas.

"We were delighted to win the contract, there was competition from across the country - it's good it's come to a Bradford firm employing local people, it keeps it in the community."