A RESERVOIR is being built on Hereford Racecourse to give the course its own water supply.

Due to a historical arrangement the racecourse in Roman Road gets its water supply from poultry business Cargill.

But by the start of the racing season in October the course will have access to its own water supply.

Rebecca Davies, executive director and clerk of the course, said the creation of a 4,000 cubic metre reservoir is well overdue.

She said: "It is to enable us to water the course and be in control of our own supply."

Arena Racing Company, which leases the land from Herefordshire Council, has invested the money to install the water storage lake.

Rebecca added: "We lost two meetings at the start of the season last year due to hard ground. We could only water with the supply given to us from Cargill on a Saturday morning.

"Whereas now we can be in control of our own destiny."

The Cargill production plant runs from Sunday to Friday which is why they could only use the water on a Saturday.

The reservoir is currently being created. They will drill down to insert a bore hole then water will be pumped into the reservoir. This will be connected to a watering system around the course.