PLANS to develop a £150,000 community sports and fitness centre have been unveiled by a Cleobury Mortimer school.

Lacon Childe School wants to build a single-storey extension housing 18 to 20 workstations at its Love Lane site, close to its sports hall and main hall.

It follows its achievement of specialist sports college status earlier this year, one of only 16 to be nominated nationally in 2001 by the Government.

The school raised £50,000 to develop the new facilities which has been matched by £100,000 by the Government.

Headteacher Dr Gill Eatough said the project would create at least one new job with the appointment of a qualified fitness trainer.

She said the facilities would offer evening and weekend sessions to the community, as well as a couple of sessions during the working day.

She added the school already offered a substantial programme of sports activities which was popular with the local community.

She said it was hoped that work would begin on the scheme, currently with South Shropshire District Council, in the summer and open in October.

The proposals also include refurbishment of existing changing facilities and the re-siting of a classroom unit.