TOWN councillors have picked up the gauntlet to act quickly and build a community changing room and toilet facilities on the Anning Road Playing Field at Lyme Regis.

The challenge was laid down by Candles on the Cobb organisers Phil Street and Mike Higgs who offered £3,600 from the event profit towards the building of a permanent structure on the field, providing the council agrees to match fund it.

The organising duo called for the setting up of a steering committee to oversee the design and construction of the facility in time for the next football season in August.

Recreations committee members gave the proposal their full support on Wednesday and will ask the full council to respond as speedily as possible.

Coun Owen Lovell said: "Let's hope we can react a lot quicker than usual. I don't want a delay leaving us with not a cat's chance in hell of doing something.

"This council owes the town a replacement for the changing room on the field, built by the Round Table, which should never have been pulled down.

"I am hopeful that we shall be able to find the required money within the budget - and we can approach other parties, too, to see whether we can get any money from them."

Town clerk Michael Lewis said he believed money in the budget earmarked for playing field improvements could be used, while Coun Lovell made the further point that it was permissible to use money from the annual allocation of recreation grants.

Commented committee chairman Coun Ken Whetlor: "We can match fund this. There is no problem. The labour costs will be negligible because the people will do it themselves."