EIGHT North-East community sports projects today (Monday, May 23) shared more than £560,000 of Sport England cash to help breathe new life into tired facilities.

The National Lottery funding will help to upgrade courts, club houses and changing rooms across the region and help get more people active.

Among the lucky recipients in the North-East are the Darlington Bowling Association which received £64,650 to replace its greens and Middlesbrough Golf Club which was awarded £65,000 for a new covered practice area.

Gateshead Indoor Bowling Club and Brandon Sports Club were among the other winners of the award in the region.

Sport England property director, Charles Johnston, said: “The Inspired Facilities fund is a helping hand to thousands of community sports projects across the country.

“No club is immune to wear and tear, and this fund recognises the tremendous work they do in helping local people keep active.

“I am delighted that thanks to the National Lottery we have been able to help so many clubs in the North-East”.

Since 2011, Inspired Facilities has invested £122m in 2,215 projects nationally, 190 of which are based in the North-East.

Around 10 per cent of clubs who have received the funding already said that without the money, they would have been forced to close, and half said they would have lost members.