A £5 MILLION cash injection is helping to breathe new life into school sports amenities.

Spelthorne schoolchildren will have more opportunity to stay fit and healthy following the announcement of £5,297,000 in funding from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF).

The hefty cash sum, part of the largest ever lottery-funded sports programme, which has divided almost £38 million across the South East, will support the creation and modernisation of existing indoor and outdoor facilities across the county.

Dr Paul Gray, executive director for children and young people at Surrey County Council, said: "This funding will give a welcome boost to the development of our PE curriculum in schools and our community sports facilities throughout the county.

"It will benefit students and local communities in accordance with the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) objectives, particularly those who have experienced barriers to their participation in, or enjoyment of, sport and physical activity.

He added: "It is too early for us to say how the funding will be allocated as NOF is still finalising the criteria for the scheme."

However Chris Fuller, sports development officer at Spelthorne Council, is optimistic that quite a large chunk of the cash will be filtered through to the borough's schools.

"I think it's marvellous," he said.

"From our point of view we'll be liaising with local schools and seeing what sports projects they've got in the pipeline so that we can then go back to Surrey County Council and bid for grants to help them get those projects up and running."

By.Sherelle Folkes