HALTWHISTLE councillors are confident that the town’s churned up football field will soon be reinstated.

The pitch at the Old School Playing Field was dug up in September as part of a long-awaited programme to resurface the area and improve drainage.

But re-seeding cannot take place until the spring, and the site has become a quagmire due to heavy rainfall.

Fears were expressed in January over land erosion at the south-west corner of the site, which is also known as the Burn Field.

Haltwhistle Town Council chairman Coun. Alan Sharp said contractors had provided an update on progress at the field.

He said: “I am hoping that the drainage will be sorted out in March, before the end of the financial year.

“There is still some concern about the drainage itself, but we have been told that the drains are in place. They have just not been connected yet.”

The scheme is being led by Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre, with the support of Northumberland County Council, and the town council.