Youngsters at Highworth Junior Football Club can look forward to luxurious new surroundings before the end of the season after a five-figure donation covered the final costs of their new pavilion.

The facility at the Elms Rec is on course for completion by the end of next month thanks to a £17,046 grant from Biffaward a multi-million pound environment fund which utilises landfill tax credits.

The grant includes a £1,704 contribution from Swindon Council.

The project has not been without its snags, as work was delayed for four weeks back in June due to an archeological find while digging the foundations.

The club were forced to foot a £12,000 excavation bill as Roman remains were unearthed at the site.

It is hoped those costs will be reimbursed by English Heritage as the club use the venue as a separate Roman education centre for local schools to visit and examine the recovered items.

But club chairman Bernard Berry insists that all the hard work will be justified when the facility is formally unveiled in April.

"It has been a great effort by everyone involved, but well worth it," he said.

"The project is to build a new pavilion for the children so they can change in a warm, dry place before and after matches and coaching sessions.

"The pavilion will contain six independent changing rooms each with its own showers and toilets.

"We are grateful to Biffaward for providing the final bit of funding.

"We are on course to finish by the end of February and hope to hold an opening ceremony in April.

"We have spoken to the Football Association about the project and they have promised to send a national football celebrity down for the event."

At present, players change in a dilapidated on-site cabin or in their parents' cars.

But the pavilion will provide modern changing facilities, a coaching room, two rooms for officials and a first aid centre.

Full disabled access to the building will be provided and the pavilion will incorporate a covered match-viewing area.

Once work is complete, the facility will also be used as a community venue for other groups within Highworth, including nursery schools, scout groups and netball clubs.

Highworth Junior Football Club was formed in 1968 to give a group of 12-year-old boys organised football.

There are now more than 200 junior members aged six to 12 who use the three large and two mini soccer pitches at the Rec.