A mammoth 96-hour operation to lay 26 lorry loads of Yorkshire turf in the Millennium Stadium has begun.

The first batch, grown by specialist growers Lindum Turf from Thorganby, near York, started its journey to Cardiff yesterday. The first of 10,000 square metres of Yorkshire grass were expected to go down in the stadium today. Lindum's managing director, Stephen Fell, said: "We'll be sending 26 lorry loads in a continuous stream over four days."

The Yorkshire turf will be ready in plenty of time for the Community Shield match on August 10 in which Manchester United will play Arsenal.

Updated: 10:25 Monday, July 28, 2003