A PURBECK football club's ambitious plans to develop its ground and facilities have taken a significant step forward.

Swanage & Herston FC is licensed to use Day's Park, where it has a pitch, bar and a five-a-side sports hall, which is widely used by other sports clubs in town.

However the development of the club has been hindered because it does not have a lease, which has proved a stumbling block when applying for funding.

But last week at a meeting in the town hall Swanage Town Council agreed in principle' to grant the football club a lease for 50 years.

The club's vice-chairman Barry Audley, said: "If you stand still you're going backwards and that's not something we are prepared to do anymore.

"We're delighted the council is giving us its backing and the club is back on the agenda.

"Hopefully this will allow us to support applications for funding and help us improve the facilities we have.

"The club is so important to the town. People worry about kids hanging around on street corners, which is why we need something for them to do."

In 1925 the club re-located to its present site at Day's Park, which was named after James Day, the mayor at the time, who left the ground to Swanage for the sole use as a football club.

The club is currently leading a £400,000 bid to build a new pavilion at King George's Field, where three of its junior teams play.

It currently has 190 registered members, including 110 youth team players, and it hopes to start women's and girls' teams soon.

At the meeting councillor Mike Tyrer, said: "We're further ahead now then we've ever been before."