HAMBLETON Boccia club has received an early Christmas present to keep them looking smart at matches.

The club, which was set up three years ago by Hambleton District Council, plays at Northallerton Leisure Centre and competes in the North Yorkshire Boccia league as well as national competitions but up until now did not have its own kit.

Thanks to sponsors York MOT Centre and Ray Maddison Builders from Scarborough the club has new team shirts.

Councillor Mrs Bridget Fortune, portfolio holder for Leisure, said: “Most of the other clubs they play against all have proper kits.

“To see the joy on their faces when they were all given their own shirts was very moving and we must show our gratitude to the sponsors for making that happen.

"We have a lot of very good and successful players and it will be great to see Hambleton finally all in matching tops and looking like a proper team.”

The club has over 20 registered participants, who all attend sessions on a regular basis. The team finished second this year in the league and were given a wildcard to enter into the National League where they finished tenth. The team also won medals in the Special Olympics Competition.