More than £200,000 has been awarded to upgrading Rackheath's sports facilities.

Rackheath Parish Council is looking to spend around £400,000 on improving the Stracey Playing Fields on Green Lane West.

And today, Broadland District Council cabinet agreed to provide £250,000 towards the scheme from its Community Infrastructure Fund.

The money will be paid back through the Community Infrastructure Levy from new housing developments in the village.

Broadland's head of planning, Phil Courtier, said while the money equated to half of the council's CIF fund, members had to accept there were 'exceptional' levels of growth planned for Rackheath.

Around 3,500 new homes have been allocated for the village over the next 20 years.

Trudy Mancini-Boyle, cabinet member for finance, gave her support to the bid, adding: 'It is what the fund was set up for.'