THOUSANDS of sports fans young and old are expected to benefit from a range of new PE facilities being built at four Dorset schools with National Lottery cash.

The Grange School in Christchurch is being given £641,561 to construct a new dance studio and changing facilities, with some of this money also being redirected next door to Somerford Primary, to build a trim trail.

Turlin Moor Middle School in Poole looks set to get £70,138 to revamp its existing multi-use games area, while Sturminster Newton High will see its cricket facilities updated with a grant of £30,750.

The aim of the Big Lottery Fund cash is to provide up-to-date sporting facilities to both the pupils at the schools, and to surrounding communities.

The dance studio project at the Grange will also be used for activities such as aerobics, yoga, dance and martial arts.

Big Lottery Fund bosses say that they expect 2,445 pupils from the Grange's host schools as well as 9,180 community visitors will use the new facilities.

Chris Skinner, sports project officer for Dorset County Council, said: "This award is a fantastic opportunity to create new and exciting physical activity provision within Christchurch and Dorset.

"The new facilities will also ensure opportunities are available to all members of the community in creating real change in physical activity levels and the many benefits that this brings."

The project at Turlin Moor Middle will enlarge and improve the school's 35-year-old multi-use games area. As well as improved drainage and floodlighting, the area will be marked out for netball, football, mini-tennis and basketball.

Three hundred pupils from the middle school, another 200 from neighbouring schools and 500 people from the community are expected to use the site.

At Sturminster Newton High the revamped cricket facilities are expected to be used by 650 pupils, 300 more from other schools and by up to 3,300 members of local clubs.

First published: September 22