SAILING enthusiasts on Exmoor have received a £50,000 boost to breathe new life into tired facilities.

Wimbleball Sailing Club's plans to improve its existing changing rooms and clubhouse are among six sports projects in Somerset to be awarded a share of more than £320,000 of National Lottery funding.

The money has been handed out by Sport England under the umbrella of its Inspired Facilities fund, which is designed to transform community sports facilities that have become worn-out, expensive to run and difficult to maintain.

The club, based at Wimbleball Lake, was set up about 25 years ago when the reservoir was created.

It has around 200 members and is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays for member sailing.

It also holds dinghy racing sessions on Sundays and during the summer provides Royal Yachting Association training courses for adults and children.

In addition, the club hosts Wimbleball Sailability, an RYA affiliated charity providing adapted boats for disabled sailors.

The bid for grant aid was a joint application with South West Lakes Trust, which owns Wimbleball and which provides land and water-based activities throughout the South West.

Club commodore Mike Green said he wanted to thank the trust for its help.

"The grant will be used to regenerate our changing rooms and ageing clubhouse, which will help the club to attract new members and families to what is one of the UK's most beautiful sailing venues," he said.

Sport England property director Charles Johnston said the Inspired Fund had made a huge impact on grassroots sports.

"This funding will create a long-lasting impact for these grassroots clubs and projects in Somerset and we are looking forward to seeing these facility improvements make a huge difference to their local communities and help more people to play sport."

Anyone interested in joining the Wimbleball club or finding out about sailing opportunities on the lake should contact secretary Colin Allan on 01823 666190.