SPORTS enthusiasts in Upper Wharfedale could soon have a £645,000 state-of-the-art sports hall.

Upper Wharfedale School, Threshfield, has has its bid for funding put forward to the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) by North Yorkshire County Council.

Acting headteacher Robert Stead said: "The project is for a sports hall incorporating changing rooms. It will be a community project and for use by the community.

"This is what the area has been crying out for, for years."

Four other schools in the area have also been told they could become jackpot winners in this round of Government funding.

South Craven School, Cross Hills, is bidding for £207,000.

If approved the money will be added to funding from Sports England, and £230,000 will be spent developing two classrooms attached to the sports hall. One would be used as a weights room, open to the community, and the other would house equipment to assess sports performance.

Sutton CP School and Sutton C of E School are also hoping to secure a joint windfall of £58,000 from the NOF. The money will be used on a multi-use sports area in Sutton Park.

Sutton CP head Philip Sant said: "It's something we have been aiming for and it's fantastic for the school and community."

Greatwood School in Skipton has also put forward a bid of £8,000 to enhance its outside playground facilities.

Headteacher John Collings said that if the bid was successful it would mean the school could provide a better outside provision for its youngsters.

"There would be some high fencing to start with, as we find that balls keep going over, kick walls, which could be used by the kids to practise against, tennis courts, basketball facilities and fixed netball arrangements."

Mr Collings added: "It has come as a bit of a surprise to me that we have got this far. There's no doubt that we need it. Kids these days are not too satisfied with a flat piece of tarmac."

North Yorkshire County Council has put forward bids totalling £3.4 million to the New Opportunities Fund to boost sports and recreation facilities for thousands of youngsters throughout the county.

Figures for the schemes are provisional and will require detailed discussion at a local level if the awards are approved by the Fund.