A 74-YEAR-OLD cricket competition has been saved from the scrapheap thanks to the help of the Durham Cricket Board.

The George Mann Cup competition has taken place in Weardale every year since 1928 - the man himself being a popular local cricketer back in the 20s.

But the competition hit the buffers last year with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth in the county forcing its cancellation.

That was followed this year by the cup being placed under threat because there was just nowhere to play it.

Added to that was the recent blow to the local fragile economy of the closure of the area's major employer, the Blue Circle cement works - meaning there was a risk of no cricket at all in Weardale, Blue Circle supporting the only league cricket team.

But now the DCB in conjunction with NatWest, the England and Wales Cricket Board, The Cricket Foundation and Sport England, have come to the rescue.

The DCB were able to allocate the flicx pitch, through joint funding by Sport England and NatWest, under the ECB "Improving our Surfaces" scheme.

Abi Searle, Sponsorship Manager NatWest said "We are delighted that the distribution of flicx pitches across the country, as part of NatWest's major grassroots programme, is proving to be a huge success in giving cricket fans of all ages the opportunity to play the game."

The Flicx pitches are plastic cricket pitches that can be rolled up and transported, allowing clubs and schools the chance to play cricket without having a permanent pitch - the main stumbling block behind this year's competition.

.Whilst also saving the George Mann Cup, the Flicx Pitch will be based permanently at Wolsingham School, where children can use it.

The pupils at the school are producing the competition brochure as part of their studies, and now ten teams have entered the competition that starts on May 13th with the final planned for July 14th.

Don Robson, Chairman of Durham Cricket Board, said: "Being able to help the George Mann Cup competition by allocating a Flicx Pitch is an example of the encouragement Durham Cricket Board is trying to do for all of cricket in Durham."

Charlie Donaghy, Organiser of the George Mann Cup, said: "The competition was in danger of not happening without having a pitch to play on. We're delighted Durham Cricket Board have been able to help by donating a Flicx Pitch."

The Flicx pitches are being distributed to clubs and schools across the UK over three years (until 2003), as part of the ECB 'Improving our Surfaces' scheme.

For further information on ECB grassroots initiatives, please contact Mark Hodgson at the ECB on 020 7432 1200.