A SPORTS club has been given a cash boost to help with the development of its facilities.

Great Ayton Cricket and Football Club has received £5,000 from Hambleton District Council’s Making a Difference Grant to buy a new mower.

“Access to sporting opportunities in Great Ayton is very limited,” said Chairman, Dave Moorhouse

“Our club serves a wide area and is an important facility for people locally to take part in sport and be a part of a team

“It is very difficult to obtain grant funding for this type of equipment but it is essential to ensure that we have professional facilities to offer our members and visiting teams. Replacement equipment is now excluded from all Sport England Grant Programmes.

“Our grounds are maintained by a small team of committed volunteers and the new mower will enable them to keep our cricket and football pitches at a high standard benefitting our adult and junior teams in both sports.”

Ward member, Councillor Ron Kirk, who supported the project added: “It is great to be able to help villages like Great Ayton with projects that they otherwise would not be able to afford themselves.

“The grant supports three out of four of the council’s key priorities - enhancing health and wellbeing, driving economic vitality and caring for the environment.”