STAFF, management and trustees at the Greig Centre in Alcester are celebrating after it was announced the Kinwarton Road facility had secured a massive grant from the Lottery.

The hall has just been awarded £100,000 from the National Lottery's Community Buildings Trial Programme.

The money will contribute towards the redevelopment of the centre, which will include creating meeting rooms and a fitness room.

New manager Stacy Robinson said: "In 2004, the centre is to blossom further after receiving funding of up £900,000 to help redevelop the sports hall and associated leisure, recreation and fitness activities.

"Stratford Council has awarded £800,000 to the redevelopment plans and we've just received this great news from the Community Buildings programme of a further £100,000.

"The development will include an extended gym, aerobics/dance room, a multi-purpose room, a vending/seating area and a creche."

Mr Robinson added: "The refurbished sports hall will offer a bigger range of sports, community and arts activities for the community in modern facilities, for many years to come."

Although the Community Buildings Trial Programme has now closed, other avenues of lottery funding are still available.

There are five main lottery distributors who will each hand out grants - Arts Council England, Community Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, New Opportunities Fund and Sport England.

Any group in South Warwickshire which would like advice on applying for grants can call Lucy Workman at Stratford Council on 01789 260694.