A new football pitch, spruced up beach playground and other sports investments have been approved for Troon. 

The town will receive £270,000 from VAT cash that the council charged leisure customers but which was later returned from HMRC.

A total of £50,000 will go towards upgrading the shorefront play park. 

Another £200,000 will be spent on making a seven-a-side pitch at the top of Portland Park and other improvements. 

There will also be a £10,000 boost for a new water sports hub and wheeled sports area. 

Councillors approved the  funding for the town at a special council meeting on Tuesday, September 1.

On the playground work, town councillor Philip Saxton said: “We are hoping to do something with the play area boat, which is in disrepair and put in facilities for older children.”

Mr Saxton said Portland Park has suffered from a “lack of training facilities” for a number of years.

The Labour politician added: “All Troon councillors agreed to these proposals and the history of this park has always had a place in the people of Troon’s heart and further afield.

“This will be very much welcomed by the supporters and will allow the potential for the main team to grow and for the young Troon Football Club Youth Academy students to train and play in a first class facility.

“The £200,000 will be invested in an all weather training facility at the top end of the park and more work on flood lights for the main pitch which is a must under the SFA rules. 

“There is to be further work on the park’s security and could allow us to seek additional funding to update the facilities further.”

Over the years, the sports ground has welcomed football legends Pele, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira and Graeme Souness.

Councilor Saxton said teams such as Brazil, Portugal, the 1990 England World cup squad and Lisbon Lions have all used Portland Park as a training base.

In recent years, Aberdeen have also trained there.