PLANS for a £12.5m sports centre may have to be scaled down after lottery bosses snubbed the project.

Sport England has refused to give £2.7m towards the project at Catterick Garrison.

But despite the shortfall project bosses say the centre, for use by civilians and Army staff, will still be built.

The Ministry of Defence has already pledged £7.35m towards the complex, with a further £950,000 coming from Richmondshire District Council and the county council.

Richard Dunn, deputy leader of Richmondshire Council, said he was confident more money could be found.

"The only difference will be that one of the two swimming pools will be reserved for Army personnel," he said.

Other facilities at the complex will include a six-court sports hall, three squash courts, a health and fitness studio, climbing wall and an aerobics/martial arts studio.

In Richmond, building work is likely to start this autumn on a multi-purpose sports hall.

Richmondshire Council has agreed to pay £150,000 towards the £550,000 overall cost.

The council has also agreed to give the same amount for a sports hall at The Wensleydale School in Leyburn.

Sports facilities will be discussed at a meeting of Richmondshire District Council's community committee today.