A CRICKET club near York will soon be using new nets funded by a National Lottery grant of more than £45,000.

Work on the nets at Long Marston Cricket Club is nearing completion as its Wetherby League season gets under way.

The club received a £46,518 grant from Sport England’s Inspire Facilities fund last year, which funded two permanent nets, a workshop and a bowling machine.

Chairman, Peter Acaster said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment to enable us to have absolutely first class facilities at the club.

"It means we can upgrade the quality of our ground to match the quality of our cricket, together with further development of our youth coaching, helping us to realise our future vision for the club.”

Since 2011, the Sport England fund has been helping breathe new life into community facilities and converting existing buildings into venues suitable for grassroots activity.

Sport England Property Director, Charles Johnston, said: “The Inspired Facilities Fund has had a huge impact on grassroots sport across the country. "Since 2011 we have invested £94 million into more than 1,800 projects to improve and refurbish sports clubs and transform non-sporting venues into vibrant community sports clubs. It’s great to see Long Marston Cricket Club join the long list of successful clubs to benefit from this fund.”

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby & Ainsty, said: "There has always been a strong sporting tradition in the area and this money is an investment in young people for today and for the future.

"We will see top class cricketers using top class facilities.”