A Mid Sussex school has raised £450,000 for a sports hall after more than a decade of saving up.

Warden Park School, Cuckfield, near Haywards Heath, launched its fund-raising campaign in the Eighties because West Sussex County Council said it couldn't afford the new hall.

Now the school just needs planning permission.

The building will include a basketball court and have parking for 25 cars.

Head teacher Brian Webb said: "We raised the money through a variety of fund-raising events and with help from the parent and teacher association. We have also used money from the school budget for this."

He said the vast majority of the cash was raised by the school and the community.

Mr Webb said: "The people of Cuckfield have been very generous and supportive."

The school's existing sports hall dates back to 1956.

Mr Webb said: "The basketball court boundaries are a couple of metres from the wall and it is dangerous.

"We can't play any of our matches at home because it breaches safety regulations. We do have a football pitch and a rugby pitch but when you have as many as 300 children doing physical education at the same time, it isn't enough."

Mr Webb said he hoped the new building would be finished within a year.