COMMUNITY groups and sports clubs in Hartlepool are celebrating after a £2.58m sports complex was given the go ahead.

Netball, badminton, basketball and trampolining are among the facilities which will be on offer at the complex.

Yesterday, Sport England announced it was giving £1,740,000 of National Lottery cash towards the project, which will be built at Brierton School, in Brierton Lane.

The remainder of the money is coming from the Owton Rossmere Single Regeneration Budget Partnership, Hartlepool Borough Council and the school itself.

Headteacher Stuart Priestley said: "This is tremendously exciting news, both for the school and for the community.

"We are extremely grateful for the terrific support we have had from all parts of the community.

"The pupils are delighted because it will help us build even further on the reputation which the school has for producing talented young sports people."

Work on the complex will start this spring and is likely to be finished by May next year.

Councillor Arthur Preece, council leader and chairman of the Owton Rossmere Partnership, said: "This is an excellent boost for the community. The new sports complex will open new doors of opportunity for more local people to enjoy the excitement and challenges of sport."

When finished, the complex will cover an area of 2,000 square metres. Some of the work will involve refurbishing existing sports facilities, which will also be open to the community, but there will also be a new sports hall, fitness suite, a creche, outdoor changing rooms, two new outdoor ball courts and parking facilities.

New lights will be installed in the school's four existing outdoor netball and tennis courts.

Judith Rasmussen, regional director of Sport England North-East, said: "The award is fantastic news for the school and a real boost for community sport in the area.

"It is tremendous when you think that, through funds raised from the National Lottery, Sport England has been able to award more than £64m to sports projects in the North-East.