TWO sports projects are to benefit from thousands of pounds of National Lottery funding.

Sport England’s Protected Playing Fields fund has awarded £50,000 each to Lowton Church of England High School and Westleigh Cricket Club to improve and protect their playing fields.

Poor drainage and an uneven gradient meant that the school’s pitch was unfit for use throughout the winter months leading to disruption in the sporting activities.

Head teacher John Shanahan said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment which forms the cornerstone of our strategy to upgrade the quality of our grass pitches to provide an invaluable community resource and support the delivery of high quality physical education for years to come.”

The cricket club’s outfield has suffered from subsidence and the money will pay to re-grade it and to install a comprehensive drainage system.