A school's dream of a new sports centre is coming true thanks to a £1 million-plus pledge by insurance tycoon Matthew Harding being fulfilled after his death.

Early plans are being prepared for the Matthew Harding Sports Complex on a plot at Downlands School in Dale Avenue, Hassocks.

Mr Harding's widow Ruth Gist, since remarried, has confirmed to the school that the money has at last been cleared for the project.

The Argus revealed four years years ago that Mr Harding, said to earn about £7 million a year, was planning to give about £1 million of his fortune to the school for sports facilities just before his death in a helicopter crash.

But the final bill to be met from his estate is likely to be higher because building and material costs have risen.

Jan Hylland, treasurer of the school's parent-teacher association, said: "They are pledging to pay whatever today's prices will be for the sports hall. I think it was mentioned by Mr Harding that it would be a million pounds.

"What his estate is saying is that they will pay, whatever it costs, because there will have been inflation. "

Mr Harding's death and the complications of working out his estate put the gesture on hold. But the school says the gift by Mrs Gist has enabled the school to update its plans for the project.

Some of the money will be used to apply for planning approval for the scheme, which has yet to be sought. Mr Hylland said: "We have to build a new mathematics facility. When that is finished, we will start on the sports complex. We are going for planning approval soon so that we are ready to start."

School press officer Tom Martin said: "It was all in the pipeline before Mr Harding died. He had been talking to the head about it and the family has fulfilled his verbal promise to the school."

Space for the Matthew Harding Centre will become available when all temporary classrooms are cleared from the site as part of a redevelopment.

Mr Harding's father Paul, of London Road, Balcombe, said: "He was doing something with the sports hall. All I know about it is that he was intending to help finanically.

"He was a supporter of state schools. He sent all his children to state school although he obviously had the money to send them elsewhere." Mr Harding, 42, was among five people who died in a helicopter crash while flying near the M6 in Cheshire in October 1996.

He was the vice-chairman at Chelsea Football Club.

His twin sons, Joel and Patrick, 16, have just left Downlands School, where they played soccer for the school team and for the Mid Sussex representative team. The family's other children, Luke and Samantha, also attended Downlands.

Mr Harding, a well-known supporter of local soccer, often watched his sons play for Hassocks Juniors FC. He helped senior club, Hassocks FC, to purchase floodlights at its Beacon ground, where he sometimes used to watch the Sussex County League side in action.

Mrs Gist was unavailable for comment.