Diss-raised England and West Ham footballer Matthew Upson gave his seal of approval to a new all-weather pitch at Hobart High School in Loddon this week.

Diss-raised England and West Ham footballer Matthew Upson gave his seal of approval to a new all-weather pitch at Hobart High School in Loddon this week.

The £430,000 artificial turf pitch for football, hockey and tennis takes the school's sporting facilities into a new league - and can also be used by local people in the evenings, at weekends and in school holidays. Before it was built, pupils had to use a football pitch that was too small and became a mudbath in winter. Already it has meant that Beccles and Loddon hockey clubs have been able to move up into a higher league - and it may even have helped Loddon Football Club to win promotion.

Mr Upson, 29, who grew up in Diss, agreed to come along because his sister, Hayley, is a PE teacher at the school. He said: “I think this is an amazing new facility. When I was that age a brilliant new facility like this would have encouraged me to go out and play football and make the most of it.”

Headteacher John Robson said: “Sports colleges in the county would be quite envious of the all weather pitch and sports hall we have got here.”