ATHLETIC school children will soon benefit from vastly improved sports facilities following a £1.5 million cash injection.

The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) has announced £1,527,000 worth of funding for Hounslow which will be used to support the creation and modernisation of existing, indoor and outdoor facilities in the borough.

Welcoming the cash, Cllr Jagdish Sharma, Hounslow Council's executive member for education, predicted that the whole community would benefit. He said: "The additional amenities will allow schools to be of greater benefit to local communities as well."

Cllr Sharma confirmed that the allocation of the funds will be co-ordinated by the LEA, following consultation, and he pledged that all schools will see improvements.

David Brockie, headteacher of Chiswick Community School, was equally 'delighted'. He added: "Chiswick is lucky to already have good sports facilities but improvements will encourage the school and the community to make the best use of these."

The cash forms part of the largest ever lottery-funded sports programme, with almost £38 million being dished out in the South East.