RIBBLE Valley borough council has appointed the man behind flagship £3.5million Loughborough University Stadium as head of cultural and leisure services.

Keen walker and cyclist Mark Beveridge, 54, held a similar job at Carlisle City Council overseeing the £2.9million development of the Sheepmount, Cumbria's state-of-the-art athletics and football facility.

Then he was strategic manager of sports operations at Loughborough University for four years, masterminding the football stadium and three outdoor sports areas.

Mr Beveridge has also worked in sports and leisure services at Glasgow and South Tyneside Councils.