A £468,000 windfall means football can really kick-off for kids in Morecambe and Heysham.

The cash boost will see Heysham High School build new changing facilities and an all-weather floodlit football pitch.

It comes as part of a £30-million commitment by the Football Foundation and National Lottery to improve school sports facilities.

And as well as providing pupils with new opportunities, the facilities will be open for use by local people after school hours and during holidays.

In all more than 4,000 players of all ages and abilities are expected to use the new facilities every year.

Among them will be the Preston North End's football development programme, Morecambe FC, Hey-sham Blue Stars and Bare Rangers.

Head teacher David Ainsworth says: "The rapid progress by Heysham High School Sports College towards becoming a local centre of excel-lence for sport, games and PE has received a further boost with this news from the Football Foundation.

"In total the new project is expected to cost in excess of £700,000 and represents a huge step forward in the school's facilities which will be used not only by pupils and students but will be available for sporting activities by the public."

Funded by the FA Premier League, the Football Association, Sport England and the Government, the Football Foundation aims to develop football as a force for social cohesion and education.