Youngsters on a Rowley Regis estate are set to see their leisure facilities benefit from a £50,000 funding boost.

Sandwell Council has raised £1.3million by selling off properties at three "eyesore" locations on Harvest Road and Albert Smith Place on the Brickhouse estate.

The buildings, a haven for anti-social behaviour, will now be transformed by developers with some of the cash raised put towards improving the drainage of football pitches on Harvest Road.

Money could also be spent on a new community centre for the estate.

Council leader and Rowley councillor Bill Thomas said improving the pitches, which are regularly flooded, was now a top priority.

He said: "We have been looking to do this for some time.

"The flats were a real eyesore, now at least we have some benefit from them."

Properties sold included a block of flats and a row of shops.

Councillor Thomas said any development would consist of 25 per cent affordable housing while there is also provision for a convenience store.

Cllr Thomas added: "We got twice as much as we were expecting for the properties - this is very much a win-win situation.

"We have sold off the land, got new housing and a pot of money on improving facilities for young people."

Fellow ward councillor Iris Boucher said the work on the football pitches was "desperately needed."

Cllr Boucher said: "There are very few facilities for young people.

"I think this is the best thing that's happened for a long time on the estate.

"It is what the young people on the estate want."

l Do you live on the Brickhouse estate? What do you think of the cash boost for facilities? Give us your views by clicking on this story at www.halesowennews.co.uk and posting a comment.