West Norfolk Council have joined forces with a sailing club in order to expand their watersports centre.

The council have pledged £60,000 from their regeneration pot to extend the Hunstanton Sailing Club, which is on the North Promenade.

And now that the council have given the go-ahead, the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) – an off-shoot from the Big Lottery Fund – will also give a grant of £317,813 for the project.

Culture and tourism councillor Elizabeth Nockolds said she fully supported the project. She said: 'This is vital for Hunstanton, and will encourage young people to visit Hunstanton and teach young people to have fun with the water.'

Fellow councillor Alistair Beales agreed, saying that the expansion would be a 'real asset for visitors and the community'.

The council agreed that the club would be open to all members of the public – not just for the members.

In a report to the councillors, it said that the CCF grant would 'transform Hunstanton into a premier venture sports destination on the east coast'.

The report also said that the centre's plans would make a 'significant contribution' to boost economic and social benefits to the town.

Improvement works on the club could start as early as next April and create two-and-a-half jobs.

The first phase of the revamp, which took place last year, saw the ground floor renovated and had new showers, a bar and disabled facilities installed.

The new investment will see the upstairs renovated which will include a lift, toilet, fire exits and an events room.

This will enable the club to host national and international watersport events.

Mick Ford from the sailing club said that the expansion could possibly be a venue for weddings in the future.

He said: 'There's a beautiful view of the sunsets here.

'This will make it a premier water sports club on our coastline.'