A village has been given permission to build a new tennis court and a multi-use pitch, so people can play a wider range of games.

The new facilities are due to be built at Wilburton Recreation Ground alongside a new car park after East Cambridgeshire District Council gave the plans the green light.

The proposals were put forward by Wilburton Parish Council in order to expand the facilities on offer in the village.

The parish council said the recreation ground already has cricket and football pitches, but said due to demand in the area it wanted to improve the options available to people.

In planning documents submitted as part of the application it said: “Currently, the Wilburton Recreation Ground does not have a car park which causes players and spectators to park along Stretham Road on match days.

“This parking arrangement is a risk to pedestrians’ health and safety as well as vehicles getting damaged as Stretham Road is one of the main arterial roads into the village.

“On match days, vehicles are also parked underneath the existing trees on the site, damaging the ecology of the area.

“Therefore the Wilburton Parish Council would like to build a car parking area on the recreation ground so that cars no longer need to park along Stretham Road or intermittently under trees.

“As well as being used on match days the car park will also support village events such as the annual Wilburton Beer Festival and Wilburton Fireworks, which take place at the recreation ground.

“There are currently cricket and football pitches on the recreation ground, however due to demand the parish council would like to improve the facilities on the recreation ground by including a [multi-use games area] and a tennis court to cater for more sports.”