Senior councillors agreed to enter into a 99-year lease of the sports fields at a meeting of St Helens Council's executive last week.

During the meeting, the executive heard how Ruskin Leisure were finding it increasingly difficult to operate the 30-acre sports ground due to the pressure of rising costs and increased legislation.

The fields had originally been managed by the Pilkington Recreation Club before Ruskin Leisure opened the facilities up to the community in 1991.

The council were approached by Ruskin Leisure last year to see if it would be interested in taking over the sports pitches and, following detailed assessment, terms have now been agreed.

Council leader Brian Spencer said: "The council was concerned that this famous facility would be lost. Having given it a lot of consideration we thought it appropriate to step in and are very confident that a strategy can be put together for the long term future of the playing fields. This is a great opportunity to step in and safeguard this facility.

"Ruskin provides a key leisure facility and the council has an extremely good record of managing sports and leisure facilities. Ruskin has provided facilities for a long time and has always been held in high affection for its historic links with Pilkington when it was used by many of their staff. Using our expertise in this type of facility we further aim to make it a viable and enhanced leisure offer."

In its heyday, the ground hosted some of the most famous sports personalities from across the UK – including Olympic gold medallists.

The social club, function suite and Oasis Health and Fitness Club will be retained by the current Ruskin Leisure management and will continue to trade under that name.

Rob Gerrard, managing director of Ruskin Leisure, said: "It was no longer possible to finance the sports facilities since our income has reduced – especially when our traditional users are under pressure and demand is stagnant. Our costs have been rigorously examined but, obviously, a 30-acre sports ground needs looking after.

"Our chief objective has always been to maintain sports facilities for the community. There can be no organisation better fitted for this than the council."