New £130,000 pavilion bowls cricketers over

A new cricket pavilion costing about £130,000 has officially opened in north Shropshire following an 18-month fundraising campaign. The pavilion is at Calverhall Cricket Club, near Whitchurch.

It has replaced a wooden hut that players described as 'cramped'.

Money for the project came from the club's own fundraising activities, Shropshire Council's Market Towns Revitalisation Programme, the Northern Marches Leader Programme, Local Joint Committee and parish council.

Club officials say once a few internal jobs are complete, the building will provide a place where young people can get involved in many different sports.

Oliver Griffiths, treasurer and first team captain, said: "It's a great addition to the village and it's for all the community to use. It's not just for cricket, people can play tennis there as well.

"The project has been going for a couple of years. Before we used a wooden hut which was small and cramped. We hope it will encourage more playing members. We currently have people from Market Drayton and Whitchurch."

The pavilion was open all day on Sunday and a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at 12.30pm.

Shropshire councillor John Hurst-Knight, said: "I'm pleased that the funding from the Market Towns Revitalisation Programme was able to give this worthwhile scheme a much-needed boost and I am sure it will be well used by many."