LET the games begin. It wasn’t the official opening of the Olympics but the unveiling of a £56,500 multi-games area at King’s Somborne.

And a sports day marked the official opening of the parish council-led project last Thursday with a tournament which included football and basketball coaching.

Test Valley’s Mayor Jan Lovell opened the games area and she was joined by Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes along with King’s Somborne Parish Council chairman Richard Harwood, the Clerk Peter Storey, parish councillors and villagers for the celebrations.

Funding for the multi-games area at the village recreation ground came from Test Valley Borough Council (£23,953) the Veolia Environmental Trust (£23,150), King’s Somborne Parish Council (£5,397), Hampshire Playing Fields Association (£2,000), Aster Communities (£1,000) along with £1,000 from Hampshire County councillor Andrew Gibson who represents the Test Valley Central division comprising King’s Somborne.

Welcoming the sports complex which includes a five-a-side football facility, basketball, tennis, hockey and cricket facilities King’s Somborne Parish Council clerk Peter Storey said: “Following our upgrading of play equipment and the installation of our trim trail a couple of years ago, the multi games area constitutes another significant investment by the parish council in the fitness of our community residents and their ability to access modern day recreational facilities.”

Test Valley’s cabinet spokesman for community and leisure Tony Ward who lives in the village said: “It is great that the new multi-use games area is now complete.”

He added: “We look forward to it being used for years to come.”

Paul Taylor, executive director of Veolia Environmental Trust which pumped nearly half the cash into the project said he was delighted to help fund schemes like this.

“We support community and environmental projects across the UK and it is always good to hear about the opening of one that we have supported. I hope the multi-games area become a focus for community,” said Mr Taylor.