A town's football club will remain at its ground, where it has been based for almost 50 years, after a new agreement with the district council.

Bury Town FC has announced that the future of Ram Meadow has been secured after the club signed a new 30-year lease following a year of negotiations with West Suffolk Council.

The Blues have been based at Ram Meadow since 1978 after the Kinds Road ground was sold. 

The club had plans to move to a new stadium in 2010 and had been operating on a short -term agreement with the council since then, but with Community Football Project plans falling through a long-term lease was sought. 

This comes after six years of improvements at the ground, totalling close to £250,000, including a new clubhouse, a new 150-seater stand, new floodlights and improved changing rooms.

Russell Ward, Bury Town chairman, said: "We are pleased to announce that the club’s future will be at Ram Meadow for at least the next 30 years and hopefully longer.

"Our supporters should be delighted that the future of the ground is now secure, and we will continue to improve the facilities as our crowds continue to rise each season, with this season the average standing at well over 500.

"We know that the town centre location of the ground is popular with our fans and with close links to the railway station and the bus station, as well as plenty of local parking, we continue to attract excellent attendances.

"In an age when out of town developments are more and more common, we are pleased to be remaining in the very centre of Bury St Edmunds.

"Although there is no further room at Ram Meadow for any extra pitches due to the location of the site, the club is continuing to explore purpose built training facilities elsewhere in the town with club director Alan Lee taking a lead role in this area."

The club will now be eligible to for further grant funding for projects and improvements.