PLANS for a multi-purpose games area that would benefit people throughout North Craven are gathering speed.

A planning application for the development has now been submitted to Craven District Council's planning committee and will be discussed in the near future.

A disused tennis court at Ingleborough Community Centre has been identified as a suitable site.

Mary Kendall, vice chairman of the Ingleton Rural Community Association and a member of the sports management committee, said: "We're trying to accommodate all kinds of sports and are hoping for an all-weather pitch for five-a-side football training, which could also be used for tennis and netball."

Ingleton newsagent Judy Denbigh, who has taken on the role of fundraising for the project, said around £90,000 was needed to pay for it.

She added that a major fundraising effort would begin as soon as planning permission was granted.

It is hoped funds will be forthcoming from such bodies as the Football Association and local sports clubs.

Mrs Denbigh said: "I've received lots of backing from the local schools who would be interested in using the facilities.

"I know members of the junior football club, Craven Wanderers, want to use it, as a lot of their members are drawn from quite a large area and they are desperate to have it for their training.

"The pitch they are using is the school sports field, but this is currently water-logged and unusable. They are desperate to have a dry facility."

Headteacher at Ingleton Middle School, Mary Parker, told the Herald: "It would be tremendous to have a facility like this available in the community.

"The school does not have an all-weather pitch and when the weather is wet, we find it very restricting as we are very prone to flooding around here."

Ingleton Primary School's PE co-ordinator, Ben Garland-Collins, added: "As the all-weather pitch will be floodlit this will mean that we will be able to use it after-school.

"We have a lot of football clubs and other sports clubs that have to stop in the winter because it goes dark too early. This will mean they'll be able to carry on.

"It also could mean that we could delve into playing different sports such as hockey. With our current facilities there isn't the opportunity to do that now."

Mrs Denbigh has already been involved in raising money for local community facilities, including changing rooms at Ingleton Swimming Pool.

She said it was now vital that the community got behind the project to ensure there was enough funding to turn the vision into a reality.

Anyone wishing to donate money to the appeal, or who can help with the fundraising effort, can contact Mrs Denbigh on 015242 41683.