London 2012: Uckfield college awarded Olympic legacy funding

Community sports groups in East and West Sussex are being being offered more than £550,000 of Olympic legacy funding to improve facilities.

The money is from Sport England's Inspired Facilities Fund.

One of the largest grants goes to Uckfield Community Technology College which has been offered £100,000 to construct an all-weather pitch.

The Cobnor Activities Centre Trust near Chichester is to get £50,000 to upgrade facilities at the water sports centre.

Other groups getting money include Horsham Trinity which will get £50,000 to construct a new pavilion, and Chichester Priory Park which will now be able to re-site and replace its cricket nets.

There will be new tennis courts in Billingshurst thanks to funding of almost £30,000.

Peter Dickinson, from Sport England, said: "The investments announced today will breathe new life into tired facilities that can be unattractive to sports participants, difficult to maintain and run.

"Grants have also been offered to convert existing buildings into venues that are suitable for grassroots sport and to allow local clubs to buy the facilities they use."

This is the first of five funding rounds of Inspired Facilities. The second round opens in February, offering local groups the chance to bid for a further £10 million of funding.