IT WAS a double celebration for an Eastleigh school as it cleared the final hurdle in a bid to build a £2m sports complex.

Last night councillors gave the green light for Crestwood Community School to sell off an unused part of its large playing field to developers for an 80 home estate.

The decision will unlock cash to boost Crestwood's sporting facilities.

Crestwood has also clinched the prestigious Sportsmark Award. It is one of 590 schools nationwide to be presented with the award by Sport England.

The award is given in recognition of the school's provision and commitment to physical education and school sport.

Sport England had at first refused to support Crestwood's plans to sell off surplus land because Eastleigh has a low number of playing fields.

The sports authority has to give its blessing before any playing field in the country can be sold.

But Sport England chiefs had a change of heart after a fact-finding trip to the school convinced them the sporting facilities in the area would be boosted by the sale and not harmed.

Crestwood will now be able to press ahead with an exciting package which will include a covered sports hall, which will be available for community use, upgrading sports pitches and providing an all weather pitch.

Crestwood head teacher Phil Munday says it was a wonderful opportunity for the school.

He said it would enable more extensive use of the school's facilities by the community in the evenings and at weekends.

He said: "We see this as very much a community facility."

He said: "Crestwood is proud of its sporting success, being a relatively small secondary school. Being awarded the Sportsmark bodes well for our plans to build the new community sports and performance facility."

Sport England chief executive Roger Draper praised the school for ensuring that physical education and sport remained a priority.

He said: "This school has been awarded Sportsmark for showing a dedication to bring physical education and sport to the fore of the school's focus and have encouraged their pupils to be active both in and out of lessons and within the community."

Councillors heard that Crestwood was the only secondary school in Hampshire that did not have a sports hall.

Councillor Gillian Connell said she was well aware of Crestwood's need for a sports hall and she hoped that the housing development would have a high proportion of affordable housing.