THE AUTO Quest Stadium moves a step nearer to completion when construction begins on the new West Stand next week.

The new stand, which should be ready by early next year, is being built at a cost of almost £3 million.

It will raise capacity to 11,000 and will also house a new table-tennis centre and sports injury clinic.

The stand will also accommodate function rooms, a new social club, a creche and a bowling centre.

In advance of a turf-cutting ceremony to launch the building work, Halton Council leader Dave Cargill said: "We're pleased to see the next phase of the development underway.

"It makes all the hard work that went into the lottery bid seem worthwhile."

Halton's mayor, Tony McDermott said the West Stand redevelopment would "really put the Auto Quest Stadium on the map."

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