A BOLTON school today netted millions of pounds of Lottery money to fund construction of a new community sports centre.

Smithills School pupils and staff were celebrating this morning after learning their bid for nearly £2.5 million had been successful.

The cash will now provide a massive financial boost for a planned netball centre of excellence, to be built within the school grounds.

The sports centre will also be capable of hosting eight badminton matches and will include new changing rooms and outdoor floodlit courts. The Lottery Sports Fund will stump up £2,443,000 for the £2.8 million scheme, with the balance being met by the school and council.

The bid's success comes after strong links were forged between the school, local authority and netball's governing body, which was looking for a specialist centre to be built.

Bolton Council architects and leisure service bosses joined forces with the local education authority to add support to the planned development.

This morning, at a special cheque presentation ceremony, Smithills' headteacher Mike Kehoe said: "I am looking forward to these partnerships now continuing to build upon their success.

"All the Smithills School children will reap the benefits of the successful Lottery bid.

"Likewise the community, and certain specialist sports such as netball will see tremendous gains."

Last year a decision on the grant application was deferred after the Lottery funding committee asked for minor changes to the scheme. It had sparked fears that any further delays would push the overall cost of the development up.

The building work is due to begin later this year, with the foundations being dug in the shool summer holidays.

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