Local Cricket Club, Murton Under 13s, will be stepping up to the crease next season, safe in the knowledge that their brand-new kit and equipment will bowl over the opposition in the Durham Coast league.

npower, the energy and essential home services provider for the North East, issued youngsters with the new kit after Lynn Kell, a correspondence advisor for npower, applied for funding through the company's Community Volunteers Scheme.

She said: "The brand new kit and equipment looks fabulous! As npower sponsors the Test Cricket, all the children feel very professional now.

"I first began as a spectator and as time went on I became more involved with the team, eventually turning to fundraising. The £500 provided by npower is just fantastic, and it has really inspired every single player.

"The Durham Coast league had better look out next year, as the new kit will hopefully spur the team on to bring home the silverware!"

The enery provider's Community Volunteers scheme provides support for employees who give up their spare time to help worthy causes, while also encouraging staff to volunteer their skills to help others.

Gary Doig, the company's community relation's manager for the North East region, said: "npower is committed to helping the community by supporting a wide range of charities and local projects."

He added: "We also want to recognise and support employees who are involved in community-based activities in their spare time."

He added: "Staff can apply for financial support through the Community Volunteers scheme on behalf of organisations that they volunteer with or raise money for. We have also expanded the scheme so that staff, who would like to be involved in community projects, can be matched to requests that we receive from local community groups that need help."