Workington Zebras have been handed a six-figure cash boost to upgrade facilities at the Ellis Sports Ground.

The club has secured £85,000 from the Rugby Football Union and £75,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund.

Workington received the new last week that it had been chosen by the RFU to become a Legacy Centre and provide a base for the continued growth in club rugby participation and membership.

Supporting the choice was the five-figure grant.

The cash, totalling £160,000, will be used to upgrade the changing room facilities, which will improve their provision for ladies and youth rugby.

The improvements include two full size changing rooms which extend the total number of changing rooms to four with a refurbished roof throughout and secured access to the complex.

Club chairman, John Dryden, said: “We are delighted that our project has won approval following its original identification by Cumbria RFU.

We will now have some of the best facilities in the area that local people from Workington can use during the week.

"England 2015 inspired a new wave of people of all ages to become involved in rugby and this RFU investment will help our club to be even better equipped to welcome the newcomers.”

And he also thanked Sport England for their funding, adding: “We are delighted to have secured this investment, which means we can upgrade the quality of our premises to match the quality of our rugby coaches.

"It is the cornerstone of our strategy to have an outstanding club for the 2012 Olympics’ legacy.”

RFU area facilities manager Alex Bowden said this would hopefully create more opportunities for people to take up the game.

He said: “The new facilities will improve the quality of the rugby experience for everyone using the site and provide more playing opportunities, especially for local people in the 14-24 age-group.

“This investment will also support the club’s financial sustainability and will create a lasting rugby union legacy for rugby in the community.

"The changing room extension will help the club raise its profile and encourage more players, volunteers and spectators to share the special values that distinguish the sport.”

And Sport England property director, Charles Johnston, added: “The Inspired Facilities Fund has had a huge impact on grassroots sport across the country.

"Since 2011, we’ve invested £102 million into more than 1,920 projects to improve and refurbish sports clubs and transform non-sporting venues into vibrant community sports clubs.

“It’s great to see Workington RFC join the long list of successful clubs to benefit from this fund.”

Local MP, Sue Hayman, welcomed the news, saying: “The Zebras has had an enthusiastic group of hard-working volunteers and this funding will enable them to provide even more for men’s, women’s and youth rugby in the community in the future.”