A SPORTS college is to benefit from a share of £175,000 in funding from the National Lottery.

A £57,500 grant from the New Opportunities Fund means a modern makeover for Laurence Jackson's sports hall in Guisborough, east Cleveland.

John Downs, deputy headteacher, said: "The whole school is absolutely thrilled to be receiving this funding from the New Opportunities Fund.

"The sports hall floor is more than 40 years old and this new facility will improve our resources for sports and PE immeasurably.

"Laurence Jackson is a specialist sports college, and this funding will allow us to add another dimension to the quality and range of sports and PE activities on offer to our pupils and the wider community."

The old floor will be replaced and the changing rooms refurbished. Children from five other schools will use the refurbished hall, with more than 1,000 Guisborough people benefiting from the improvements.

The facelift is one of three in the region.

The lion's share, £86,000, is being spent on changing room blocks in swimming pools at Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, which will enable school parties to take up swimming lessons.

A further £30,000 will be spent on a new grass playing area at King Edward Primary School, North Tyneside.

The project will enable the school to provide improved opportunities for football, rugby and athletics.

Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, chairwoman of the New Opportunities Fund, said: "This funding will enable schools and communities across the North-East to improve and develop their sports and fitness facilities, and create state-of-the-art amenities that will have a wide and lasting impact."