SPORTS fans were celebrating today following the news that a bid for £46,000 to improve facilities has been approved.

An application for the money towards a scheme to improve sports pitches in Briercliffe will no be made to the Sport England fund.

Members of Burnley Borough Council's executive board approved the bid after hearing that two junior and one practice pitch at Queen Street recreation ground were maintained by the parks services unit but were frequently unplayable due to drainage problems.

The home team, Borrowdale United, have used Barden school facilities for eight years.

Both Borrowdale United and Briercliffe Rovers as well as local schools have supported the need for drainage work.

Leisure officer Robin Gray told the executive that Sport England were administering £3.5 million towards improving playing fields in the North West and that Burnley was one of 26 authorities invited to submit bids.

He reported: "A report produced for the council by the Sport Turf Institute identified both gradient and drainage as major issues and have costed proposals for pitch drainage at £71,000." It is proposed that the remaining £25,000 be met by the parish council, existing funding and £10,000 from the council's capital programme.

It is hoped design work will be carried out this financial year with site works in 2003-4 to coincide with proposed second phase of drainage at the Prairie playing fields.

Mr Gray added: "Not only would improved pitches here offer young people playing pitches where few other facilities exist, the project offers benefits to the council of attracting £45,724 of external funding, it brings a substandard facility into greater use and reduces costs of ad-hoc repairs to drainage."

Executive member for leisure Barry Guttridge commented: "Clubs and leagues have worked hard with the council to improve facilities across town as part of the playing field strategy.

"With our success in securing funding to improve Prairie playing fields we are now looking to improve facilities elsewhere.

"The proposals have the support of the Burnley playing pitch partnership which brings together the clubs, leagues and football pitch providers across Burnley."