NEW sporting facilities at an Amman Valley school have been officially opened.

Carmarthenshire County Council officially opened Ysgol Dyffryn Aman’s new 3G rugby and football pitch alongside its six-lane synthetic running track on Friday, November 10 with a sports festival.

The sports festival saw the primary schools that feed into Ysgol Dyffryn Aman take part in activities.

It will further enhance the sporting legacy of the school – which boasts the likes of former Wales and British and Irish Lions international Shane Williams amongst the many stars to have gone on to have stellar sporting careers as former pupils.

Shane was also present at the opening alongside elite marathon runner Josh Griffiths and current Wales men’s and women’s captains Jac Morgan and Hannah Jones respectively. All of whom are also former pupils of the school.

Cllr Hazel Evans, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism, said: “We are delighted to officially open the new 3G sports pitch and running track at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman which will ensure a first-class sport facility for the whole of the Amman Valley.

“Delivering a new 3G sports pitch in Ammanford was an objective set out within the county council’s cabinet vision statement along with developing a strategy and assessing the need for all weather pitches across the county. It’s very pleasing to see this realised for the benefit of the area and the benefit of the children using it here today and for years to come.

“This investment in the Amman Valley is all-important in developing the council’s sport for all approach to support a broad range of participation in sports, from beginners to elite.”

The new pitch was the final part of a £2m investment by Carmarthenshire County Council to see the first-class facility built. Alongside the pitch, there were also resurfacing works done to the existing 2G hockey and football floodlit all-weather pitch, which cost £300,000 and was funded by the school, council, Sport Wales and external funding.