SKY Sports presenter Jeff Stelling handed a Winchester school major funding today to help build a new all-weather football pitch.

Mr Stelling, who also fronts Countdown, handed over a £342,000 grant to Henry Beaufort School, on behalf of the Football Foundation.

It means the Harestock school will be able to push ahead with plans to construct a floodlit, artificial pitch for both pupils and the local community. The £630,000 project is expected to be completed by October.

"It's a fantastic plan," said Mr Stelling, from Alresford near Winchester. "Especially at this time of year the pitches are either frozen or waterlogged and there's nowhere for the kids or the community to play football. This is the answer to all their prayers.

"It doesn't matter how bad the conditions are going to be, this pitch is always going to be there and always available and I guess it will be used for every minute of the day."

Jonathan de Sausmarez, head teacher, said: "I hope one day there's someone who's trained on this pitch who goes onto play for England and not only that but lifts the World Cup, which is what we all want!"