An all-girls school has been given £1.25 million for new sports facilities.

The Sport England cash will go to Helenswood Lower School, St Leonards, for a four-court sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite, and gymnastics area.

There will also be resurfaced floodlit tennis courts and new changing rooms and showers.

Building work will begin in June and last a year.

Meanwhile, the school has been given specialist arts college status by the Department for Education and Skills.

The move means it will receive more than £600,000 over four years to enhance its facilities in music, drama and dance.