An £83 million sports village, which is predicted to turn Leigh into "one of the finest hubs of activity in the Northwest", has been officially opened.

Leigh Sports Village is the biggest investment in public sports, recreational and educational facilities in Wigan borough for many years.

It includes a 10,000 seat stadium, a new Leigh Sixth Form College building, a 400 metre running track and club house, a new pavilion for a local amateur rugby league club, floodlit grass and artificial pitches, a 150 bedroom 4-star hotel and offices, as well as specialist retail facilities, including a cinema, health and fitness centre, restaurants and bars.

Barratt has also submitted plans for 145 houses and apartments on the northern part of site, some of which recently went on sale.

Leigh Centurions will start the rugby league season at the new stadium in a move from its previous base on Charles Street.