PARRENTHORN High School has hit the lottery jackpot to the tune of almost half a million pounds.

The Heywood Road school has been awarded a total of £480,200 from the Big Lottery Fund to spend on sports facilities.

Headteacher Mick Fitzgerald said the money will be used to create a new synthetic sports pitch to replace its current one which is 32-years-old.

He said: "This is a great opportunity not just for the school but for the wider community as it will be open in the evenings for wider use. There are not many sports facilities in Prestwich and currently people have to travel to Philips High in Whitefield or Goshen in Bury.

"Sport is a high priority at Parrenthorn and it is evident that the quality of the surface they practice on is a factor in performance. I am hoping they will come on in leaps and bounds."

The sports pitch will offer a wide range of activities, including football, hockey, rounders, cricket and athletics.

It will have new fencing and floodlighting, plus some car parking for evening use.

Nearby Prestwich Arts College, in Heys Road, has also received a cash boost from the fund.

They will benefit from £54,721 to refurbish their sports hall, which will upgrade the lighting, doors and equipment, replace floor markings and provide storage equipment.

The awards are part of a £768,021 cash injection for the North West from the Big Lottery Fund's £750 million New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme.