LANCASHIRE has received the lion's share of the largest ever lottery-funded sports programme in the North West.

The New Opportunities fund -- the biggest distributor of National Lottery good causes money -- has given £11.9m to the 'Red Rose County' from an £89m pot.

No other local authority was given as much -- Liverpool was the nearest rival with £9.2m. The cash will be spent in Lancashire schools which allow the community to use their sporting facilities. Existing facilities will be improved and additional ones built to promote sport in the community.

The plans will be coordinated by the county council. Jack Bennett, the council's acting director of education, said: "Meaningful physical activity for all children is a high priority. Playing fields in many of our schools are of very poor quality, rendering them inaccessible for much of the winter.

"The opportunity to improve physical education facilities in schools will be made possible on a much greater scale through this new grant allocation, and each new scheme will have significant benefits for their local community.

"This initiative will significantly enhance the quality of participation for many pupils in physical education in a number of schools."