The Highland Council has warmly welcomed the award of £3.27 million worth of funding from the New Opportunities Fund, which will help the council promote physical education and develop sports and community facilities at schools.

Over the next few weeks, senior officials will be identifying which projects might be considered for funding and members of the Education Culture and Sport Committee will be asked to agree priorities at a meeting on 23 May.

The funding is aimed at the building of new and the revitalising of existing sports facilities. The fund also seeks to promote out-of-hours projects which offer sporting and cultural activities for the wider community and projects promoting the role of sport and helping provide positive life choices for young people.

Councillor Andy Anderson, Chairman of the Education Culture and Sport Committee, said: "This is very welcome news indeed and promises much in promoting sport and leisure opportunities for all. It will also significantly help us to develop fully a network of community schools throughout the Highlands as well as supporting the council’s drive to develop a new community schools approach to joint working across the Highlands.

"We are already seeing the benefits of the School Sport Co-ordinator Programme in increasing participation in sporting activities and the new funding package will build on the progress we are making."