Work is under way to bring community facilities back to the heart of a west Cumbrian estate, thanks to a £250,000 boost.

The money was given to the Moorclose area after the closure of the estate's sports centre last year, when the council opened a new leisure centre at The Cloffocks, Workington.

A £50,000 grant was given to the area by Allerdale Council and a further £200,000 was gained by Moorclose Community Centre thanks to the sale of a 4-acre parcel of land off Ashfield Road South.

The land belonged to the county council, which transferred it to the community centre.

It was sold to the Allerdale Investment Partnership which wants to develop housing.

Retiring county councillor Gerald Humes, a trustee of Moorclose Community Centre, said: "It would have been easy to walk away and let in the bulldozers but we stuck at it. We intend to repay the faith shown in us by creating a fantastic place for all sections of the community.

"There are now more than 40 different community groups and small businesses using the site. With support, this can only go from strength-to-strength."

The cash will be used to improve the former sixth form teaching block, the six-court sports, the theatre and the library.

Alan Smith, leader of Allerdale council, said: "This is us fulfilling our promise for the re-provision of leisure facilities in Moorclose.

"I am delighted, as a board member of Allerdale Investment Partnership, to be able to free up £200,000 on top of the borough council money.

"There are great people in Moorclose who are doing fantastic things – now we want to move things forward."

Money has already been provided to improve football initiatives and also to support Workington Town Boys and Girls boxing club, which meets in the old sixth form building.

Work on the community centre's sports hall is due to be completed in the summer and the following phase will be the refurbishment of the former sixth form block.

Funding has also been used to improve the nearby football pitches, new bench-style seating along key footpaths, major clean ups and landscaping work, planting of new flower beds and the creation of a residents' newsletter on behalf of the Moorclose ward councillors.

Councillor Peter Bales, Moorclose ward councillor, added: "I would encourage any member of the Moorclose community who has ideas to improve the area to get in touch.

"There is some financial support available and a huge amount of expertise among the council offers which the public can take advantage of.

"By working together we can make Moorclose an even better place to live."

Charity West House, which is due to move into the former sixth form building, announced this week it received a £10,000 donation to help support the cost of refurbishing the part of the building they will occupy.

The donation was made by the West Cumberland Group of Masonic Lodges in celebration of the tercentenary of the founding of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717.

Ken Archer, masons' chairman, said: "The admiration of the work of West House was evident from the Lodges within our group, who nominated them to receive this award.

"It was great to see how important such donations are in witnessing the delighted reaction of the staff at West House to the news.

"What really makes it worthwhile is knowing the difference the money will make to many adults and children within this local area."

The cash will be spent on the development of the new centre to offer life skills classes, therapeutic activities, social support and access to advice.

James Cox, the charity's chief executive officer, said: "Knowing our service users are being valued by important community groups is very encouraging.

"Gifts like these are hard to come by but make such a difference to aspirational projects like Moorclose. The money will be put to the best possible use. We are truly grateful."