Two sports teams in West Dunbartonshire have benefited from recent funding. The funding has been used to improve facilities, with new changing blocks at Dumbarton Common and Singer Park.

Previously, teams using the two pitches at the Common had to change at a council canteen 600m away, while the park at Singer was rarely used because there were no facilities for teams to change.

The new changing block at Clydebank means a home team and the opposition can now be accommodated, while in Dumbarton, up to four teams can use the facility at any one time.

The projects were supported by more than £150,000 in match funding from sportscotland.

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As a result of the work, local teams are making more use of the site and looking to identify them as their home ground, while West Dunbartonshire's two disability sports teams are also able to use the outdoor pitches for the first time. The previous lack of changing rooms meant that they used to have to play their games indoors in sport centres.

Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, Convener of Infrastructure and Regeneration, said: "By working in partnership with sportscotland we have been able to create new facilities to improve people's sporting experience and help attract new participants. It's fantastic to hear that clubs are now looking to make these parks their home ground as a result of this investment."

Councillor David McBride, Vice-Convener of Infrastructure and Regeneration, added: "These new changing facilities are already making a huge difference in their communities. The full benefit will be seen in the Spring when the football season peaks. With £1million set aside in a community sports fund, I look forward to seeing further sporting development projects coming forward."

(JP/MH)