A DERELICT tennis court at Askrigg is to be transformed into the upper dales' first multi-use games area thanks to a National Lottery grant and years of lobbying by local people.

Work on the site at Yorebridge starts in January and football, tennis, five-a-side and basketball provision should be ready by March.

Funding was secured by Yorebridge Sports Development Association through Active England, a scheme set up by Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund to help projects designed to encourage community participation in sport.

Coun Yvonne Peacock, Richmondshire District Council ward member, said: "At present there are no floodlit, hard-surface sports training or playing facilities in the whole of the upper dales. A campaign to secure funding for this type of games area started five years ago and, with the support of the community, we've persevered and the money has come through. It is going to be a great resource for everyone in the area to use."

The £143,118 was £50,000 more than originally bid for.

Sport England regional director, David Gent, said: "We wanted to ensure the success of this project. It is a fantastic scheme in an area where there are currently no facilities of this kind, and the benefits will be far reaching.

"Rural areas often have just as many constraints when it comes to access to sports facilities as inner city urban areas. The Active England fund was created with a view to enable as many people as possible in a community to participate in sport. The Yorebridge project meets those criteria perfectly."

The funding will also be used to employ a full-time sports officer for the whole area to encouraging use of the new facility and promote the benefits of regular exercise. Future plans also include on-line booking, the hire of heart rate monitors, a community loan scheme for sports equipment and grant-aided sales of cycle helmets for people cycling to the pitch. Plans are also afoot for a bus stop opposite the site.

"It was these extra ideas which helped clinch the funding," said Mr Gent. "There is no point in creating a fabulous recreation area if it turns into a white elephant through lack of use. This bid not only outlined the desire for a sports pitch, but, arguably more importantly, also showed ways in which it could be made easier for all members of the community to use."

Richmondshire District Council has contributed £10,000 towards the project. Hilary Conway, the authority's community leisure officer, said: "This is the maximum single amount available from our Grants for the Community and Voluntary Organisations fund. We are delighted the money for the Yorebridge project has been granted by the national lottery. Like Sport England, the council recognises the need for accessible sporting facilities throughout the district and we believe the multi-use games area will substantially improve opportunities for sport in the upper dales."