A Bradford sports club has won grants of more than £1 million to transform its ground into a state of-the-art community facility.

Manningham Mills Sports Association has secured £1.1 million to get more people from the community involved in sport.

The award of lottery and European cash marks the end of a five-year campaign to replace dilapidated facilities in Scotchman Road.

Now the changing room will be demolished to make way for a new building, comprising new changing rooms, community rooms, function rooms, a computer suite and creche.

The funding will also allow the association to employ a development worker and creche staff.

The association's chairman, Delroy Dacres, said the grant would allow more people from the Manningham area to become involved in sport.

Sport England has provided £500,000 and £300,000 has come through European Objective Funding which has been matched by Bradford Council and Bradford Vision through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The building work has to be completed by December 2005 for the association to receive the Sports England Grant. Consultants and architects are now working on a planning application to submit to Bradford Council.

Manningham Mills Sports Association comprises Manningham Mills Cricket Club, Campion FC and Heaton Juniors Football Club. Seven junior football sides and three junior cricket sides already use the ground in Scotchman Road.

But Mr Dacres said he wanted more young people, particularly girls and disabled children, to get involved.

The existing building will make way for a seven-a-side football pitch and development is expected to start in April.

Mr Dacres said: "We want everyone to be involved in this. We don't just want people to come here and be impressed with the building, we want everyone to feel they have a vested interest in making things happen.

"We want this to get more people involved in sporting activities but also community activities as well because there is nothing like this in Manningham.

"We have been trying for five years but I never thought we would actually get it. We always knew the need was here, but getting the money is a different thing."

Manningham Mills Sports Association put together the bid with the help of Sam Keighley, who was manager of Manningham Sports Action Zone and now works for Bradford Vision as a Neighbourhood Manager.

She said: "I am absolutely thrilled for the association. "They have been doing marvellous work getting young people from all backgrounds to play sport together in the most horrendous conditions.

"Now this will help them get more people who perhaps wouldn't naturally become involved."