Witham Town Football Club are celebrating some important funding news that will help it improve its facilities at the Village Glass Stadium.

With help from Witham MP Priti Patel, the club have obtained funding that will allow them to secure an area of land they are due to take control of to allow them to host their youth sides at the stadium in Spa Road.

The £10,000 grant has come from Braintree District Council's Mi Community fund.

Patel said: “Witham Town do fantastic work supporting youth football in Witham and this grant will go a long way to help them fulfil their ambitious expansion plans.

“The club has an exciting vision for the future and is at the heart of our community.

“They are inspiring the next generation of footballers to come forward and get involved with the game as well as encouraging more boys and girls to take up sport and develop leadership and team skills."

The land will be home to three new pitches - one full-sized and two youth-sized - and will allow Witham Town's youth sides to play home games at the ground rather than having to be spread out across neighbouring areas.

And the good news hasn't stopped there as the club has also announced this week that it has received funding, with Patel's help again, that will allow them to relay the Village Glass Stadium's main pitch this summer.

That work is due to begin in the week starting May 12.

See this week's paper for the full story and more reaction.