Mansfield Harriers Athletics Club members are to benefit from state-of-the-art flood lights at its track in Berry Hill Park.

The £47,000 lighting scheme is to be funded by England Athletics, the Harriers, and £15,000 each from Mansfield District Council and the Radford Foundation, a charity set up by Mansfield Town Football Club owners John and Carolyn Radford to give a helping hand to the local community.

Harriers have also received support from The Armchair Club,  a group of local businessmen backing local sportspeople and organisations.

Coun Andy Burgin, portfolio holder for environment and leisure, said: “The new lights will be a big improvement for the track now leased to the Harriers and just one of various improvements the council is putting in place since taking over the management of Berry Hill Park as trustees.

“As well as being a boost for the activities of the Harriers, their lit training sessions will also make the park more accessible to the wider public in the evenings.”

Pat Carlan, chairman of the 100-year-old athletics club, said: “This refurbishment of the floodlights will make a huge difference and allow our athletes valuable extra training time. It will make the facility useable at night.

“We are very grateful to the council, the Radford Foundation and England Athletics in making this new lighting possible.

“It’s vital at this time as health and wellbeing is paramount.

“It opens up opportunities for exercise and enables people to exercise in the evening as well as the daytime”

Nik Springthorpe, trustee of the Radford Foundation, added: “Mansfield Harriers has children from all age groups and adults training with them, so to upgrade the floodlights and allow them to use the track during the evening is great for the community.”

Pictured are from left, Nik Springthorpe, Pat Carlan and Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough.