THE ratification of the legal and financial details necessary for the upgrade of the playing fields and buildings at a grassroots football club to go ahead has been hailed as 'fantastic news' by its local councillor.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's ruling executive board on Thursday night approved the £317,900 deal to allow the improvements at Mill Hill Juniors Football Club.

The authority owns the Green Lane Playing Fields from which it operates.

The refurbishment will allow the club to expand adding one team a year to its operations.

After the meeting by the council's public health and leisure boss Cllr Damian Talbot who is a councillor for Mill Hill and Moorgate ward said: "This is fantastic news.

"It is a credit to the work of everyone involved with the club.

"They are all volunteers.

"Hundreds of young people at Mill Hill Juniors FC will benefit from this."

The project will improve the drainage of the pitches and the purchase of grass pitch maintenance machinery along with fencing and containers for storage.

An existing changing room building currently used as a maintenance store will be refurbished to provide a pavilion with a kitchen/servery, office space and toilets.

Mill Hill Juniors FC has a 25 year lease on the Green Lane football pitches with 20 years left to run.

"The Football Foundation has approved a capital grant offer of £249,121 which represents 78.4 per cent of a total project cost of £317,900.

The cash gap between the grant and the total project costs will be paid for by Mill Hill Juniors Football Club."

Blackburn with Darwen council will now act as the 'Accountable Body' for the funding, negotiate the legal agreement for the grant with The Football Foundation and the club, and procure the works necessary.

A planning application for the scheme was approved on May 25.

Mill Hill Juniors Football Clubs has more than 500 players aged from three to 16 and 80 volunteers.