Midlothian Council has confirmed that two injections of funding have been secured in order to stave off fears surrounding the future of a snowsports facility at Hillend, near Edinburgh.

Sportscotland has worked in conjunction with the local authority to provide £533,000, which will secure the future of Midlothian Snowsports Centre. The Scottish Government has also agreed to release £400,000 of revenue funding that is set to be used to support the use of the centre by local schoolchildren.

A meeting of Midlothian Council's full council formally agreed to accept the funding offers on 22 March, which will help refurbish the existing visitor centre among other schemes. Midlothian Council leader Derek Milligan said: "We are delighted that people have come forward to recognise our case that this is a national facility, a jewel in Scotland's sporting crown, and should not be subsidised wholly by the taxpayers of Midlothian.

"People have worked hard to cut costs and increase the use of the centre, and we are optimistic that the new developments will make the centre more attractive, and will continue to work in partnership with sportscotland in future."