FIVE secondary schools in Glasgow are to benefit from £2.8 million new sports facilities.

Council bosses will vote this week on whether to invest the cash in creating state-of-the-art sports pitches.

High schools have been chosen where facilities are in the worst condition and where the local community can also benefit.

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convenor for Education, Skills and Early Years, said: “This is great news for the young people and staff at the five secondary schools across the city who will be able to benefit from the new, state of the art sport pitches.

“The local community will also be able to access the new facilities out with the school day.”

The council committed £2.5m for new sports pitch facilities in the secondary school estate in the 2017 budget.

A survey of the city's 29 high schools was undertaken with schools ranked using a points system to show those with the greatest need.

The five schools that ranked highest in terms of need were: Bellahoustoun Academy, St Roch’s Secondary, Hillpark Secondary, Smithycroft Secondary and Knightswood Secondary.

Pitches will be built under the public private partnerships (PPP) arrangement between Glasgow City Council and its contact with 3Ed Limited.

3Ed Limited's contract manager Semperian has quoted £2.79m for the cost of all five pitches.

Extra funding will come from spare capital funding of £70,000 from Knightwood Secondary School.

A shortfall of around £220,000 will be paid for from the current education investment programme that is seeing refurbishments and renovations to city schools.

Glasgow Life has said there may also be additional budget for Bellahoustoun Academy to construct a hockey pitch and include flood lighting and additional training facilities.