More than �1.3m has been awarded to the City of Leicester School and Sixth Form College to build a four-court sports hall and a fitness suite.

The state-of-the-art facilities for the 1,500 students at the Leicester school will be ready in September 2006.

The facilities will also be open to other pupils at nearby schools and people living in the area.

The Mill Adventure Base near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, is getting �375,000 to create a visitor centre, accessible toilets and changing facilities.

The improvements will also include more teaching space and a covered adventure activities area with a climbing wall and ropes.