A Blackpool gypsy site is set to be upgraded after it was awarded a grant of more than £400,000.

The Chapel Road site will now be refurbished following the successful bid for funding from the local council.

The money comes from the Government's Gypsy and Traveller Grant, and the Minister for Gypsies and Travellers Iain Wright announced the grant last week.

Chapel Road currently has 26 pitches, with each pitch made up of a hard standing area with a separate kitchen and bathroom. The £439,972 grant will help pay for two extra pitches to be setup.

Peter Jefferson, chief executive of Blackpool Coastal Housing, said: "I am delighted that we have been successful in bidding for funding for the Chapel Road site.

"This will enable us to carry out much needed refurbishment to the infrastructure of the site."

The money will also pay for a new power supply on the site, increased security, new kitchens and bathrooms for each pitch and a new communal building.

In total £1.9million has been approved to sites in the North West, to provide one new site and upgrade four current sites.

Mr Wright said: "This funding is vital in delivering both new and improved sites, ensuring that gypsies and travellers have authorised, decent places to live.

"We look to local authorities to show real leadership in taking forward what can be a contentious issue on the ground. The grant supports local authorities and registered social landlords to increase the number of authorised sites for gypsies and travellers."