LEADING gymnasts have won funds to build a state-of-the-art sports centre at a Hampshire school.

Pupils at Hamble Sports College will benefit from the £1.1m project along with nationally ranked members of the Dynamo School of Gymnastics.

The centre has been made possible thanks to a £750,000 grant from Sport England, the government scheme to encourage physical activity. Funding has also been granted from Eastleigh Borough and Hampshire County Councils, Hampshire Playing Fields Association as well as the school and gymnastics club.

Work will begin on the hall next month and should be completed by July 2004. It is the second phase of a £5m redevelopment project at Hamble Sports College which has been a specialist school since September last year. The news is especially welcome for the Dynamo School of Gymnastics, which feared it could be forced to close when the lease expired on its current club at Solent Industrial Estate in Hedge End.

Now they will set up a permanent base at the new building in Hamble.

Able members of the club include 16-year-old Vanessa Hobbs from Fareham, who is likely to be part of a Great Britain team in the Olympics next year.

Director of coaching Debbie Hampton said: "We are all over the moon as at last we will have a state-of-the-art gymnastics centre to match our high level of gymnastics."

Leader of Eastleigh Council Keith House said: "We are really excited at bringing world-class gymnastics to Hamble.

"Dynamo is one of the best gymnastics clubs in the country and it will now have one of the best facilities in the country which will be available for local people too."