Thornton-in-Craven primary school is planning to build a new sports hall.

Acting headteacher Faye Linskey said there were currently no facilities at the school for indoor PE lessons and class two had to be ousted whenever room was needed.

The school has now submitted a bid for funding to pay for the new facility.

"The school can play sport outdoors and takes the children swimming regularly, but the dangerous trunk road which passes the school's Cam Lane road end means it is not practical to use the village hall," said Mrs Linskey.

"We have been advised against crossing the road to use the village hall for sports, games and PE because the road is so busy."

Almost £3.5 million is up for grabs for North Yorkshire schools under the Government's New Opportunities Fund for PE and Sport.

"We've put in an outline bid for funding to build a sports hall, but that is as far as we are," said Mrs Linskey.

"It is up to the authority to choose which projects to fund, although the amount of money available is not a lot when you think of how many schools there are in North Yorkshire."

The school hopes to receive a response to its application by the end of the year.

Around 20 local residents attended an open meeting at the school to discuss the sports hall proposals.

Villagers heard the hall could also be used in the evenings for out-of-hours activities, and expressed concern that this could lead to increased parking problems for nearby residents.

Mrs Linskey said: "Parking has always been a problem around the school because Cam Lane is very narrow and mainly residential.

"We remind parents to park away from the school and walk up for their child to ease congestion if at all possible.

"Visitors to the school are able to use the school car park, although I appreciate it is small."

School governor and parish councillor Sam Magee has met with Bill Isherwood, of North Yorkshire County Council's Highways department, Steve Ball of the traffic police and parish councillor Robert Hall to look at ways of alleviating the parking problem.

Restricted parking at the trunk road end of Cam Lane was one suggestion Mr Isherwood was able to take away with him to investigate. The restrictions would likely be between 8am and 6pm.

Meanwhile, residents can have more of a say on the proposals during the next area forum meeting to be held on Thursday May 23, although the venue has yet to be announced.