ILKLEY'S Nell Bank outdoor education centre has been given £500,000 pounds to help pay for a major re-vamp.

The decision to provide the one off grant was made by the Bradford School's Forum at a meeting yesterday morning. The forum had already provided around £1 million in 2012 to improve facilities at the centre, as well as at Ingleborough Hall and Buckden House in the Yorkshire Dales.

All three facilities are used by Bradford schools for day visits and overnight stays.

But late last year it was revealed that when architects were asked to draw up plans for the Nell Bank expansion they were over budget by around £750,000. The site already has planning permission for a 64 bed accommodation block.

Despite works to improve Ingleborough Hall, the forum heard that it had increased occupancy from just 23.5 per cent last Spring to a projected 28 per cent this coming spring. But Nell Bank is expected to be near full capacity this coming summer.

The committee agreed to provide the money, and closely monitor the progress at the site.