A GIANT air dome to provide year-round sports facilities for an entire Eden community has been officially opened in Kirkby Stephen.

The nine-metre high structure covers the three existing tennis courts at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School and will offer shelter from the elements for a range of sporting activities during the colder months.

The dome, the first of its kind in the county, can be taken down and stored during the summer and is expected to be used extensively by both students at the school now in its third year as a specialist sports college and members of the community, with private and group professional tennis coaching available as well as private hire of the courts.

Former Kirkby Stephen Grammar School head boy and now chairman of the town council, Coun Alex Birtles, was on hand to officially open the dome as well as a new dance studio which has been designed to allow dance to be taught throughout the curriculum.

"It's very reassuring to go to a small rural school and see it thriving Kirkby Stephen Grammar School is now a very ambitious sports college and these facilities open up so many more possibilities for both the school and the community," said Coun Birtles.

The new facilities are the result of a £100,000 Government grant and mammoth fund-raising efforts by the school itself to raise the additional £40,000 needed to fund the capital projects that form part of a sports college development plan. But the school is determined to set its sights higher still with plans for resurfacing of the courts next spring and hopes for a new sports hall on site in the future.

The school has already seen an increase in sporting activity with students following the Junior Sports Leader Award, a Brazilian football franchise in operation and facilities available for exercise on referral in conjunction with the local health authority.

Head teacher David Keetley said it was a real achievement' for a small secondary school to be granted specialist status and to find such a large amount of money in sponsorship.

He added he was delighted that Kirkby Stephen Grammar School could make such an impact on sport to the benefit of hundreds of students and adults across the Eden valley.

"We are extremely grateful to the number of people who worked on these projects to develop the idea as part of our sports college status.

"We might live in a small place but sport is really buzzing here now it's very strong.

"And it is excellent that we finally found the money for this, both for the benefit of our pupils and the wider community."