Sport Northern Ireland is to invest £3.6m in the improvement of sports facilities across the region.

A total of 25 facilities have been earmarked for grants and projects to receive funding include pitches, floodlighting and specialised indoor sports surfaces.

The largest single grant, £245,000, has been awarded to Belfast Royal Academy, which will use the monies towards the construction of a synthetic, full-size multi-use sports pitch.

Other projects to be included in the latest round of funding include the Fort Disabled Riding Centre in Maghera, which has received £79.000 towards an upgrade of its indoor arena flooring and St Mary's GAC in Ahoghill which was given £152,000 to help construction of a natural turf pitch with floodlighting.

Eamonn McCartan, Sport Northern Ireland's chief executive, said: "This funding is designed to offer quality, accessible facilities which encourage people of all ages and abilities to take part in regular physical activity and sport."