LYME mayor Barbara Austin will cut the first turf to signal the start of building the new pavilion and changing accommodation on the Anning Road playing fields.

Coun Austin will don a hard hat and use a mechanical digger, provided by Martin's Excavations, to lift the first sod at 11 am tomorrow (Saturday).

Work on the new building will start the following Saturday when the footings will be laid.

The £30,000 project is being co-ordinated by the Candles on The Cobb Playing Field Project Committee, headed by Phil Street and Mike Higgs.

The new building will provide changing accommodation for the junior teams of Lyme Regis Football Club and pupils of St Michael's Primary School.

It will also provide public toilets, which will open when the field is in official use.

The cost of building the new pavilion is being met from joint funding from Candles On The Cobb, Lyme Regis Town Council, West Dorset District Council and Lyme Regis Football Club. St Michael's Primary School has also offered to organise a fund-raising event.There will also be a small kitchen and storage area. Most of the work will be carried out by voluntary labour.

Building consultant John Broom designed the building and construction work will be supervised by local builder Charlie Kapur, one of the football club junior managers.

Phil Street said: "Half of the proceeds from the last Candles on The Cobb have been allocated to worthy youth causes in the town. There is a great need for changing accommodation and toilets on the playing field for all users and we are delighted that we have been able to bring this project to fruition."

Football club chairman Philip Evans welcomed the initiative, saying: "The lack of changing facilities on the playing field has always been problem for our youth teams in recent years.

"With a total of 13 senior and junior teams, we desperately need more pitches and we will continue to use Anning Road for our youth games after we move to the Strawberry Field."

The organising committee is appealing for voluntary labour, both skilled and unskilled, to help build the pavilion. Those who are able to lend a hand at weekends should contact Mike Higgs on 012974 445593 or Charlie Kapur on 01297 445928.

Organisers hope the project will be completed by the end of October when an official opening ceremony will be held.