A PRESTON college has agreed to the sale of its sports hall and is planning to plough the profits into a new leisure complex for the community.

Cardinal Newman Catholic College has sold its sports hall in Garden Street, subject to planning permission, and chiefs at the college will invest the capital in a new, multi-million pound facility.

College govenors and church leaders from Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocese, who own the college, reached an agreement with the buyer for an undisclosed amount and are waiting for them to sign on the dotted line.

The sports hall is last building in Winckley Square owned by the college and many students will remember attending the historic premises, including numbers 33-34 which were sold in 1978, now marked by a blue plaque because of their historical interest.

Cash from the sports hall will be put toward a new complex at the derelict St Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, St Austin's Place, Avenham, also owned by the Lancaster diocese.

The church has been closed for 20 years and, in January this year, The Citizen revealed how nearly 2,000 graves were being exhumed to prepare for its redevelopment.

Simon Thorrington, secretary to the Lancaster Diocesan Trustees, said: "The sale is in the final stages now. We have waited a long time for this project to come together and it looks like building of the centre will finally start."

Working in partnership with the diocese and Avenquest Trust the college hopes to boost self-employment and training in Avenham while hiring the sports hall for students.

The twin bell towers and portico of St Augustine's will form the entrance way into the new complex which will include a college-run IT suite.