The fund is part of the £135 million ($212 million/€158 million) 'Places People Play' National Lottery-funded scheme which is being delivered by Sport England and aiming to create a mass participation programme from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"For hundreds of clubs and tens of thousands of people, 2012 will be the year their local sports facilities got better," said Sport England chairman Richard Lewis.

"We've had unprecedented demand for this fund, which has really hit the mark with sports clubs.

"It shows we're offering the sporting legacy that people want."

The investments announced today will breathe new life into old facilities that can be difficult to maintain and run.

Grants have also been offered to convert existing buildings into venues that are suitable for grassroots sport and to allow local clubs to buy the facilities they use.

The investments include £46,000 ($72,188/€55,218) to buy a new permanent home for a boxing club in Oxford that was at risk of being closed down and £50,000 ($78,435/€60,020) to replace the roof at Worcester Citizens' Swimming Pool, which currently has a number of serious leaks that were threatening its future.

£50,000 ($78,000/€60,000) will also be spent to upgrade a 35-year-old clubhouse at Great Eccleston cricket club in Preston.

"We want to use the Olympic and Paralympics next summer to inspire a generation to get involved in sport across the country," said Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson (pictured).

"This is why as part of the £135 million ($212 million/€158 million) Places People Play legacy programme we invited community sports clubs to apply for funding to upgrade their facilities."

Inspired Facilities has been designed to be as simple and accessible as possible for potential applicants, with a shorter form and a catalogue of ready-made options to choose from.

This is the first of five funding rounds of Inspired Facilities; the second round opens on February 1, 2012, offering hundreds more local groups the chance to bid for a further £10 million ($16 million/€11.5 million) of funding.

"This is a fantastic funding project that will deliver a real legacy from the London 2012 Games," added London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

"It will provide a whole range of sporting opportunities for young people through improved facilities and will I hope inspire them to take up sport."

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November 2011: Manchester boxing club is first to benefit fromSport England fund
October 2011: Sport England put £10 million up for grabs to grass roots sport
July 2011: National Lottery pledges £50 million to upgrade 1,000 English sports facilities
November 2010: Richard Lewis - Delivering a mass participation legacy from London 2012