FRESH calls have been made to sporting bodies to invest in facilities in Mid Wales.

Powys is currently served by one 3G surface at Newtown Football Club's Latham Park while Newtown's Maldwyn Leisure Centre also has an artificial all weather pitch.

However Welshpool's Flash Leisure Centre has been ruled out of commission due to drainage issues and damage caused by flooding.

It has left senior and junior sports clubs in the area with even less options to undertake training sessions.

Last weekend Dyffryn Banw Football Club's junior side trained at Llanfair Caereinion High School's all weather pitch.

Coach Gareth Chapman conceded the pitch "was far from ideal but better than nothing."

Chapman called for sporting bodies to invest in more 3G pitches in Mid Wales or risk losing out in a generation of talent.

"The need for more 3G pitches in Powys is massive," said Chapman. "We have such talent but the facilities are awful."

The Dyffryn Banw coach confirmed his players usually trained at the Flash Leisure Centre.

However the ongoing repairs of the all weather pitch in Welshpool had led the club to seek an alternative venue.

Chapman said: "We usually train in Welshpool on the all weather but hat’s out of service for who knows how long.

"The pitch in Llanfair Caereinion is not ideal but better than nothing.

"Give kids a ball and two goals and they’d play anywhere."