A DILAPIDATED sports ground is to undergo a £1 million revamp after receiving funding from the National Lottery.

Rockingham Welfare Ground had been repeatedly targeted by vandals and was shut indefinitely in September when it failed a health and safety inspection.

But fears of closure have been replaced by hope the ground will be restored.

Rockingham community association chairman Gordon Jacobs said the clubs using the ground were over the moon.

He said: "Everybody is buoyant about it because it will mean massive improvements to the hall and facilities.

"We were having to apologise to visiting teams about the state it was in and even go to other places to hold presentations as our place was that bad.

"We've all had to work hard to keep it open and now they know all their work was not in vain. It has been a labour of love for a lot of people out there."

The council plan on leasing the ground to the Forge Community Partnership which will then assist the community association in the day- to- day running of the ground.

Work is expected to start in January though Gordon hopes security fencing and cameras can be installed before the development begins.

The first phase of the regeneration project will be focused on the welfare hall and further is funding still needed to improve the sports pitches and athletic track.

The hall will get a new roof, replacement floors, windows, changing rooms, kitchen area, boiler room and a new lounge and bar.