A riding school which was at risk of closure only a year ago has secured a £75,000 grant for a new clubhouse.

Aldersbook Riding School, in Empress Avenue, Wanstead, will receive the funding this month to improve the facilities at the school.

Sport England's Inspired Facilities fund is a £110 million programme that pays for the renovation and modernisation of local grassroots sports facilities.

The riding school provides lessons for children and adults.

In July, the riding school was awarded £8,400 by the Olympic Legacy committee to provide 350 hours of free lessons for those with disabilities or over 50s.

School owner, Ida Thorne, told the Guardian in February 2013 that she was pouring her own savings into the school and was worried about its financial future.

But nearly two years later, while admitting it is still a struggle to make ends meet, she expressed her delight with the extra funding.

She said: “To have a new clubhouse would be marvellous because visitors to the school, especially on rainy and cold days, want to sit in the dry before and after they go riding.

“There are still rising costs for the school and we would not be able to afford a new clubhouse.

“So this is another step forward in the right direction for the school and we are absolutely delighted.

“We are a traditional riding school that was hit by the recession, but we chose to not put prices up as this is a community riding school which caters for disabled riders too.

"This investment will improve the whole experience for the riders, the volunteers that help them and the parents, teachers and staff that accompany our riders, particularly those accompanying our many disabled groups.”