A FOOTBALL club has been handed £100,000 from the town council to help redevelop its ground.

Lyme Regis Football Club has been given the funding to help pay for a renovation project at the Davey Fort ground on Charmouth Road.

The three-stage project will include an extension of the football pitch and the building of a covered spectators’ area, the extension of the clubhouse to accommodate a kitchen, and the re-surfacing of the car park and replacement perimeter fencing.

It is hoped the renovations will attract more players and spectators, allow the club to improve its standard of football, cater for more functions to increase revenue and improve security.

Club chairman, Howard Larcombe, said: “Lyme Regis Football Club is immensely pleased and excited to receive this grant donation over the next four years.

“The money will go a long way towards funding our three-phase scheme which will greatly improve the facilities at the Davey Fort ground.

“Whilst we appreciate we also have a great deal of fundraising to undertake to add to the grant, the end results will I'm sure be worthwhile and move the club up a level in-line with others in the local area."

Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Owen Lovell said: “The town council is pleased to support Lyme Regis Football Club, which it has done consistently, the extent to which the club is now being supported by the largest grant ever given by the town council to ensure the well-being of the football club into the future.”

Youth music group B Sharp was awarded £15,000 over three years, in addition to £10,000 this year to help with the running of the charity.

The funding will allow the continuation of the young music leadership training programme, and Hub Jams and Boombox sessions. It will also help pay for a part-time programme co-ordinator and contribute to the group’s core funding.

A cheque was presented to B Sharp’s chairman, Hannah Lovegrove, by town clerk, John Wright, at the Hub, where the organisation regularly meets.

Mrs Lovegrove said: “B Sharp is extremely grateful to Lyme Regis Town Council for their generous support.

“The challenges that young people face in a rural, coastal community cannot be underestimated. As chairman of the trustees, I’d like to thank LRTC for creating a long-term partnership with B Sharp and helping them to sustain and continue their far-reaching and exciting work in our community.”

Cllr Lovell added: “The opportunities given to young people by B Sharp are great for the creative and drama aspects of the town and the council is pleased to offer them support.”

Grant agreements have already been signed by Lyme Regis Gig Club, the Hub and Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, and two are yet to be signed by Lyme Arts Community Trust, which runs the Marine Theatre, and LymeForward.