A WEST Devon village is this week celebrating, after the announcement that it has scooped a massive grant from the Football Foundation.

Lifton Sports Club has managed to secure a £86,240 award to replace the ancient and dilapidated pavilion in the village recreation field.

It means the club can go ahead with construction of a new complex for local sports players.

Terry Batten, of Lifton Sports Club, said: 'You can't imagine what a high we are on; we are absolutely delighted, it's brilliant news.

'We are thrilled to bits the Football Foundation is supporting us. Football has really escalated in the village.'

She said the sports club had been fundraising for four years and to receive such a big grant was 'a dream'.

Terry said two adult football teams, plus six junior ones, currently use the existing facilities, which she described as 'dire'.

New facilities provided by the grant will include a small function room, new changing facilities, toilets and a kitchen.

The new complex will also be used by the cricket club during the summer and links will be developed with local schools, who will be able to use the ground for games lessons and after-school coaching sessions.

Parish clerk Ivor Williams said Lifton Parish Council bought the recreation field for the community more than 70 years ago.

'The council was very far-sighted,' said Mr Williams. 'Eventually a pavilion was put up there but now it's so dilapidated it's difficult for the teams to use it.'

Mr Williams said the parish council had put £10,000 towards to the new pavilion — but paid tribute to Lifton Sports Club which had worked so hard to raise money for new facilities.

He said the pavilion would be invaluable for the growing community at Lifton, in addition to sports use, in providing meeting facilities for local groups.

Football Foundation spokesman Simon Taylor said: 'The foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass-roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities throughout the country.'

Football Foundation chief executive Peter Lee said: 'On behalf of the Foundation, I wish the project the very best of luck and offer Lifton Sports Club our sincere congratulations.'

Lifton Sports Club is now in the process of re-tendering the contract to build the new complex. Any builder interested can call Terry Batten on 01566 784569 or Jane Woodbridge on 01566 784454.