A STATE-of-the-art sports facility could be created at a Colchester school.

St Helena School is in talks with PlayFootball over a scheme which could transform its sports facilties.

If the plans are agreed, PlayFootball will invest £1.4 million to create nine all weather sports pitches on the school fields.

The project, which also includes a new pavilion, would cover an area of 8,000 sq metres, about a third of the school's playing fields.

The area is currently used for sport but is frequently waterlogged and unuseable.

If the deal is reached, students at the school will be able to use the new facilities between 8am and 5.30pm with members of the community using it outside school hours.

For more on this story, see today's Gazette.