A popular West Sussex leisure centre is to undergo a £750,000 refurbishment to keep up with demand from customers.

Trustees of Chanctonbury Leisure Centre in Spierbridge Road, Storrington, have announced the expansion, which has been in the pipeline for more than three years, will finally go ahead after Lotto chiefs agreed to contribute £330,300.

Work is already underway on an 18m by 12m hall with sprung floor, changing facilities for disabled people and a floodlit multi-use games area.

The development will also include a new reception and caf, additional storage, a lift to the first floor and kitchen and servery facilities.

David Millar, chairman of the leisure centre's trustees, said: "We are confident our investment of National Lottery funds will help deliver a project that will benefit all sections of the local community."

The centre's bosses have pledged to nurture local talent and all schools in the area have been told they will have use of the new facilities.

Priority will be given to basketball, gymnastics, cricket, girl's football and disability sports.

Netball, tennis, trampolining, archery, fencing, badminton and dance will also be promoted.

Sport England Lottery officer Simon Tennant said: "We are delighted to confirm Sport England's award for this project.

"We originally offered our support in November 2002 and since then we have been working hard with the association to develop it."

The main building is scheduled to be completed on December 24, when work on the games area will start.

The centre is principally for residents of the ten West Chanctonbury parishes around Storrington, although many people who live outside the area regularly visit.

It has 2,250 members, 450 of whom are children, and demand is growing fast.

Monday July 28, 2003