YOUNG footballers who had to stop training at Malmesbury School after a swingeing hike in hire charges, have been baled out by North Wiltshire district councillors.

Group 4, which is responsible for hiring out rooms at the school, increased the cost of the hall from £60 to £202.50 a week to cover running costs.

Malmesbury Youth Football Club said it could not afford to continue training its 250 youngsters at the school and stopped training before Christmas.

But the club's youngest players have been rescued by North Wiltshire District Council which gave a grant to cover the rest of this year's rental costs. The mini teams aged between six and ten can now train at the school but older age groups still have to find alternative venues.

This week the club was given another boost with the news that Group 4 had decided to reduce the steep hire rates which means hourly rates at the school are now £19.15 for the gym, £17.66 for the hall and £16.38 for the drama room.

The new charges are inclusive of heating and lighting and use of toilets, shower and changing facilities

The club said it was pleased the fee had been reduced but said it was not a significant reduction.

Club spokeswoman Marion Pictor said: "We have had no official notification yet of the reduction, but it seems prices have gone down slightly.

"It will help but we will still not be able to cover the cost on our own. We will have to find grants to train during the winter."

The school was built under a £38m PFI agreement between Wiltshire County Council and the Whithors partnership that included schools at Chippenham and Wootton Bassett.

County councillor John Thomson who helped to negotiate the reduction with the district council, said: "I am very pleased they have been able to reduce the costs of renting the rooms.

"It is an excellent facility with no parking problems and a very large hall. The reduction will make facilities available to more of the community."

Mum Erica Whatton, of Hankerton whose son plays for the club said: "It is going to make a bit of difference but it should be available to more of the community."