A WIRRAL youth club has received a share of National Lottery funding that will be used to pay for much-needed refurbishment work.

Shaftesbury Youth Club's grant of £43,632 from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund will be used to pay for re-surfacing of a five-a-side all-weather pitch at the venue in Mendip Road, Prenton.

It will also be used to fund the car park’s re-surfacing, new entrance gates and railings and a notice board for use by the local community.

Club chairman Ray Linforth, said: "We are delighted to have secured this investment which will not only improve facilities for the club members but also improve the local environment.

"Our thanks go out to Sport England for providing the opportunity to carry out this necessary work."

The club, which was first opened in 1886, moved to its present site in Prenton in 1971.

It has had a well deserved reputation for sport, in particular football, and is hoping to expand its present facilities by incorporating the adjacent council playing fields.

The club is discussing the proposal with Wirral Council and is hoping to progress the situation before the end of the year, which when resolved will allow the club to incorporate more football pitches for local teams and to develop junior soccer on Wirral.

Birkenhead MP Frank Field said: "Shaftesbury Youth Club is a centre of excellence in Birkenhead which has been recognised by Sport England in this much welcomed grant."