SPORTING organisations in Bridport are today celebrating the news that a planned new facility has been awarded a huge cash boost.

A new multi-use games area at the car park to the Bridport football club ground at St Mary’s Field will receive a £27,500 grant.

Bridport Town Council is one of 38 local organisations across the country to share in a £1.6million handout from Sport England.

In a major boost to grassroots sports clubs the investment comes from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Olympic and Paralympic legacy fund.

The council is taking over the land from West Dorset District Council and the £50,000 project will see a fully floodlit, multi-sports facility for use by schools and for training by local groups and clubs.

Bridport Town Surveyor Daryl Chambers said the council was delighted to hear the news.

“This is part of a package we have put together with West Dorset and others,” he said.

“We are really pleased to have the opportunity to re-vamp this area.”

Sport England Chair Nick Bitel said: “A year on from the Olympics, it’s inspiring to see how our investment is transforming sporting facilities in hundreds of communities.

“The great news for sports clubs across the country is that we’re putting an extra £40 million into Inspired Facilities, so many more projects will benefit in the coming years.”

Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said: “This £40 million injection of National Lottery funding will be a huge boost to local sports facilities across the country.

“Coming a year on from hosting the London 2012 Games it demonstrates our commitment to a tangible and long lasting sports legacy. The Inspired Facilities fund has been a massive success and by extending it to 2017 it will help encourage many more people to get involved in community sport.”

Today’s announcement means that 1,361 grassroots sports facilities have now benefited in the two years since Inspired Facilities was launched, with a total of £69.9 million invested.

A year on from the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, Sport England has also committed an additional £40 million National Lottery funding to extend the legacy fund until 2017.

Bids will be accepted for the next round of Inspired Facilities funding from October 21. Find out more at sportengland.org/inspiredfacilities