The Football Foundation has announced that a run-down sports ground in Southall is to receive a £644,800 grant to bring facilities up to date.

The grant will enable Ealing Council to build a full-size floodlit artificial pitch, two multi-use games areas and a new pavilion with six changing rooms and a meeting and training room. The building will be known as the Swift Road Outdoor Sports Centre.

It is estimated that 40,000 local people will use the facility, which is hoped to become a major community sport hub.

Additional funding is being provided by Ealing Council, the London Marathon Charitable Trust and several local schools – all of which were involved in a partnership with other interest and user groups, to support the proposal.