A scheme to create a purpose-built sports centre has won a huge cash injection from the National Lottery.

Sport England has given a Lottery award of £832,000 towards the construction of the multi-purpose sports centre in Colburn, near Catterick Garrison.

The money is in addition to £371,000 already awarded to the project from the Richmond Partnership's regeneration programme for the garrison communities.

Work on the project is expected to start next month and the new facility should be completed by October.

The Colburn community and the Richmond Partnership have been working together for the past four years to turn the dream into reality, and have won the backing of the various local authorities.

Colburn town council clerk Alan Shinkfield said: "The town council has invested £50,000 on this project to date, and the council is delighted that Colburn residents will benefit from the investment through the provision of a first-class facility."

The idea of a sports centre was first conceived ten years ago and, since then, there have been numerous feasibility studies and surveys.

All the local sporting clubs and groups have been canvassed for their support and have given full backing to the scheme.

Kay Lerrigo, of the Colburn Community Partnership, said: "Sport England has very high standards and it has been hard to work up a scheme to convince them.

"We are naturally delighted that we have been chosen as a priority project in the region."

A spokesman for the Richmond Partnership, Colin Grant, said: "Along with the Darlington College at Catterick and the business park, this is the third major capital project in our regeneration area.

"Although Sport England has been a very hard taskmaster, we always knew we had an excellent scheme which deserved their support."

The centre will consist of a two-court badminton hall, activity room, fitness room, climbing wall and indoor and outdoor changing rooms.

External works will include a multi-use games area and a pitch suitable for cricket and football