A school hosted a community fun day to launch its new football pitch.

Nightingale Academy has recently laid a 3G astro-turf pitch, which is open to sports groups around the borough.

The pitch combines artificial green blades of grass with small black rubber pellets known as 'crumbs'.

Celebrations included stalls and a DJ as the new ground was opened today by Mayor of Enfield Councillor Ali Bakir.

Derek Musisi, aged nine, has used the pitch twice to train with his football team, Rap-id.

He said: “I love it. The only thing is you have to be careful what shoes you wear when it rains because it gets slippery in the rain.”

Derek’s mother, Dorothy Musisi, said she was also impressed with the pitch. She said: “The children really like playing on it, although Derek does come home covered in bits of black rubber”.

Debby Lipkin, executive principal of the school, said the school hoped to develop its sporting talent by working with community sports groups.