A ROSSENDALE high school has unveiled ambitious £1.3 million plans to transform sports facilities for community use.

Whitworth Community High School plans to erect a sports hall for school and community use and build a single storey entrance corridor linking the school's existing gymnasium to the new development.

The facilities will include space equivalent to four badminton courts, a fitness suite, instruction room and changing and administrative provision and will be available to high school pupils and primary school pupils as well as other peple outsideschool hours.

Neil Robinson, headteacher, said: "The school and community have worked together for many years to bring this much needed facility to Whitworth.

"Whitworth Town Council, Whitworth Sports and Recreation Trust have worked together with governors of the school and Lancashire County Council to bring this about. The resulting building will add to and be in sympathy with our recently completed and spectacular with our recently completed and spectacular new building."

The sports hall will be situated on the north side of the school, behind the existing gymnasium.

Julie-Ann Ellis, a PE specialist at the school, said: "The sports hall will greatly enhance the teaching of physical education at this school. We have done our best over the years with the existing accommodation but it has restricted our indoor activities."