SPORTS pitches costing £85,000 are to be built in a rundown part of Little Hulton.

The all-weather, floodlit picthes would allow youngsters to play football, basketball and tennis all year round.

Councillors said they hoped the facilities would give youngsters in Little Hulton a chance to stay away from crime and keep fit.

But residents have written letters to Salford Council, complaining that the pitches could become a magnet for vandals and louts.

A decision will be made at a planning committee meeting today, but councillors expect the application, which has been lodged by Salford Council, to be rubber-stamped.

Cllr Alice Smyth said: "Little Hulton has been crying out for this for years and it would be a real boost for the area.

"You see teenagers round here on the streets in the evening because they have nothing better to do and even though they're not causing trouble, they need a diversion.

"Sport is the best way to get them into properly organised activities and these pitches mean they can get involved no matter what time of year it is or what the weather is like."

The pitches would be built on playing fields between Greenheys Road and Whatton Primary School.

Cllr Smyth said the fields were often too wet to play sport and the grass was not cut often enough.

Residents in Belcroft Drive, Brookhurst Lane, Greenheys Road and Mossbrook Drive have been made aware of the plans and two letters have been written to councillors complaining that eight-metre-high floodlights would cause light pollution.

The money for the pitches has been provided by the Safer Salford Community Fund.