THE grounds of a cricket club have benefitted from an £8,000 cash injection thanks to a local supermarket.

Etherley Welfare Association, who manage the grounds of Etherley Cricket Club, in High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, received the grant from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme.

The team have used it to repair and tarmac damaged track, install interactive artworks for youngsters and plant flowers.

Benches have also been installed alongside the playing field, gates have been refurbished and a wooden cricket sculpture has been installed.

Bill Oxbrough, chairman of Etherley Welfare Association, said: “We found out we were successful in getting the grant last December and we were absolutely delighted. The £8,000 has really gone a long way.

“We decided that because there are a lot of facilities here for cricketers that we would like to have something for the kids, so we got the trim trail and a willow maze made by Ruth Thompson of Sylvan Skills.

“We are over the moon with the end result, it’s an environmental scheme which enhances the environment and I think people here are going to be really delighted with it.

“It’s just something else for the people of Etherley to enjoy.”

Ann Cairns, treasurer of Etherley Welfare Association, added: “I think it’s fantastic, the little children just love the trim trail and I think this willow maze is lovely. I would like to thank Tesco for the grant, we are very appreciative.”

Bags of Help is Tesco’s local community grant scheme where the money raised from the sale of carrier bags is used to fund local projects in communities across the UK.

The scheme was launched in 2015 and shoppers are encouraged to vote for their favourite projects each month by putting a token into a box in store.

Following the vote, the project that received the most votes in its area will receive a grant of up to £4,000, second place receiving up to £2,000 and third place up to £1,000.

John Bailey, community champion for Tesco, said: “The grants are available for any groups and charities and I would encourage anyone thinking about applying to do so.”

The scheme is administered by community charity Groundwork. For more information visit tesco.com/carrier-bags