SPORTS fields in Ryde and Newport are to be developed thanks to a £440,000 government grant.

The Isle of Wight Council's sports unit has learned schemes to improve Haylands Farm Playing Field at Ryde and Seaclose Park, Newport, have been awarded the cash.

Most of the money - £320,000 - will go on Seaclose where a cricket pitch is to be moved and a new drainage system installed to allow more play to take place on football pitches that are prone to waterlogging.

At Haylands, a complete new £120,000 drainage system will be put in with additional levelling work to provide mini-soccer and regular-size pitches for use by Ryde High School and Oakfield and Binstead Youth Football Clubs. It is also hoped that more funds can be raised to create changing facilities.

Lee Matthews, Sport and Recreation Manager for the Island Council, said: "Although there will be a short-term loss of facilities at Seaclose, I am delighted the site will be benefiting from these improvements and I look forward to seeing the site back in full use next year. The improvements to the playing fields at both Ryde and Newport mean that the fields will be able to be used more throughout the year, and there will be more facilities for the younger players."

Councillor Jill Wareham, portfolio holder for education and lifelong learning said: "These works will have a dramatic effect on sport in the two biggest towns on the Island and will improve the facilities for users of the pitches from all over the Island. However, it is particularly important that the works at both Ryde and Newport will improve opportunities for young people to get more involved in sport.''