SPORT ENGLAND has announced a special £5 million flood relief fund to help restore pitches and repair sports facilities damaged by the recent storms.

£5 million of National Lottery funding will be made available to sports clubs, local authorities and other community organisations for emergency repairs to damaged facilities such as football, rugby and cricket pitches, water sports centres, pavilions, changing rooms and floodlights.

John Stevens, CEO Active Gloucestershire, said: "This is very welcome news. Many communities in Gloucestershire have suffered from flooding damage, particularly pitch sports and, ironically, water sports clubs sited adjacent to rivers.

"Any clubs requiring further information should go to the Sport England website and we are also available to provide local advice and support if required.”