A SPECTACULAR new Newport school will also become a sporting hub for the city.

The £29 million Llanwern High School, in Ringland, Newport, which replaced the old Hartridge High School when it opened at Easter, will cater for a wide range of sports.

While the new school has impressive facilities for everything from photography to drama, music and art, the new sports facilities are a highlight.

The school is equipped with a state of the art fitness suite, a four court sports hall, as well as outdoor tennis and netball courts. In addition to that there is a football sized 3G all-weather pitch, two football pitches one of which will be floodlit, a rugby pitch and dance studio.

So impressive are the new facilities that Newport County will make the school their new training base.

It is part of a wider attempt to not only make the school, who can count the Cardiff City and Wales footballer Nathan Blake and Olympic sprinter Christian Malcolm amongst its alumni, a sporting centre of excellence, but also give people in the community of all ages and abilities the chance to get involved in sport.

Andy Knight, the business and community manager for the school, said: "It is going to be a great facility for young people trying to take their sport to a professional level but it is also for people who just love playing a bit of football every now and again.

Local clubs in everything from gymnastics to netball will be able to use the site right up to Newport rugby club and Newport County.

Mr King, said: "I know Justin Edinburgh (the Newport County manager ) is keen for the club to be able to use the lecture theatre for things like video analysis of the opposition but also to use the school as a base for some of their community activities. I think the partnership is going to be beneficial the sports clubs, the school and the local communities."