Blatchington Mill is one of the most successful secondary schools in Sussex, attracting more and more pupils each year.

It didn't really have a proper sports hall when the school was created in Hove more than 20 years ago and the existing provision is totally inadequate for today's 1,700 pupils.

Now it has raised almost half the £510,000 needed for a sports hall that would meet its needs.

Governors and parents have asked Brighton and Hove Council to fund the rest, but they have been told there is no cash available.

It's true that more than £2 million has been spent on Blatchington Mill by the council in the last three years, including an extension and an access road.

A previous scheme for a community sports hall was dropped by the council last year after a lot of work had been put into it.

The solution could be to revive this now that the King Alfred redevelopment, which would have provided a rival sports hall, has collapsed.

This scheme would be big enough to attract cash from the National Lottery and other sources, unlike the present far more modest proposals.

Blatchington Mill has made progress by thinking big in the past. The school and council must do so again now the King Alfred debacle has provided an unexpected opportunity.