A CRICKET club hopes to build on its successful youth division with by adding more players and coaches.

Tudhoe Cricket Club has landed £4,730 for its junior cricket development initiative from the Spennymoor Area Action Partnership.

It was one of 12 projects to secure funding when the AAP held a public vote, in December, to decide how to allocate grants to local projects.

The club currently has two senior teams and four junior teams, which won two trophies and a league last year.

It hopes to recruit more volunteers and will use the money so they can gain ECB (English Cricket Board) qualifications.

Volunteer Ian McGrath said: “We want to encourage people from outside and within the club to become volunteer coaches, including some of the younger players.

“Volunteers can get a lot out of becoming a qualified coach and we hope to attract more young players, including girls who can play in mixed teams. “Cricket can be something fun, healthy and social for youngsters to get involved in, it gives them something to do and we have a nice facility they can make use of."

The AAP funding will also enable the club to train before the summer season - with subsidised indoor sessions planned from February - and buy player analysis equipment to help members improve their performance.