TAXPAYERS across Worcester have been handed an early Christmas present - with £2 million of lottery funding being handed towards the city's new swimming pool.

Sport England has today announced that it wants to help put the city on the UK's 'swimming map' by awarding it the hefty seven-figure sum - calling it an "exciting project".

The move is a huge boost to Worcester City Council, which is having to find £10.5 million to build the pool at Perdiswell.

In recent months intense lobbying has gone on behind closed doors in a bit to wrestle some kind of contribution from the body, which funds worthy sport projects across the nation.

But the competition is intense - and there was no guarantee Worcester would get a penny until now.

Today, council chiefs reacted to the announcement by saying it would drastically reduce the burden on taxpayers.

Work on the eight-lane pool started last month and it will open in early 2017.

Councillor Mike Johnson, the cabinet member for sport, leisure and retail, said: "This is fantastic news for Worcester, for our local swimmers and the council.

"Sport England’s support is a recognition of the fantastic quality of the new pool that is about to be built and will reduce the overall cost of the scheme to our council taxpayers."

The money is coming from Sport England's 'Strategic Facilities Fund', a kitty aimed to getting more people to play sport.

It is a recognition of Worcester's desperate need for a better pool, with the facility at Sansome Walk in a crumbling state.

The eight lanes will also bring competitions to the city for the first time, as until now people wanting to compete had to travel to Wolverhampton and Gloucester.

Sport England has also called for Worcester people to develop a "lifelong sporting habit" by using it.

Charles Johnston, Sport England property director, said: “The right facilities in the right areas are fundamental in providing more people with the opportunity to play sport.

"Our £2 million National Lottery investment from our fund into Perdiswell Leisure Centre is building on the work we have been doing with the council to identify the best places for sustainable and cost-effective leisure facilities that meet the needs of residents.

"We look forward to working with the council on this exciting project that will help people develop a lifelong sporting habit."

The rest of the cash needed to build it will come from the same sources including a loan, capital funds from future budgets and some cash from the sale of the council's old Orchard House complex, which was flogged to the University of Worcester last year in a deal approaching £3.1 million.

The current Perdiswell Leisure Centre will be completely transformed, with the pool part of a massive new extension.

The rest of the complex will also be refurbished and include a 120-station gym, fully revamped sports hall and cafe.

Once built, the pool at Sansome Walk will close and be demolished.

* It's underway! See how the work started last month with a VIDEO here.