CHRISTMAS has come early at Palatine High School.

The school's playing fields in South Shore, Blackpool, is to be the site of a £5.4 million leisure centre after Blackpool Council was awarded £4.4million from the Sport England Lottery Fund.

The rest of the £5.4million cost will be funded by £700,000 from the Council, £200,000 from Blackpool Challenge Partnership and £104,000 from local businesses and charities.

The facility will consist of a 25-metre competitive swimming pool and learner pool, fitness suite, general purpose room, rehabilitation room and a sports hall that includes a three-star table tennis centre and education facilities.

It is not only a major boost to the South Shore area but the town as a whole. A broad-based programme providing a wide range of educational and community sports and leisure activities will be provided, catering for all abilities, ages, interests and backgrounds.

In addition, Sport England Lottery Fund has also agreed to support Blackpool's bid to be a part of the school sports co-ordinator programme and allocated £282,550 towards the £500,000 programme which will be spent over a three year period.

Funding is also being provided by Blackpool and the Fylde College, local secondary schools, Blackpool Challenge Partnership and Blackpool Borough Council.

The scheme will allow secondary school teachers to focus on developing and enhancing the PE curriculum and working closer with primary schools, the community and Blackpool and Fylde College.

Frank Shipway, assistant head at Palatine, told the Citizen: "I am absolutely ecstatic about the award. It has been a long time coming as it was a project that actually began five years ago.

"It shows how the council and school can co-operate to the mutual benefit of school and community. Once building work commences it is estimated that it will take about two years to complete."

John Blackledge, Leisure Services manager, said: "Both schemes are a major boost to the town and sport and leisure is set to play an even greater role in the building of a better Blackpool."

The new centre should be finished by early 2004.