LACOCK Cricket Club has begun its new season in style thanks to sponsorship which has enabled them to buy new mobile pitch covers.

It comes after the England and Wales Cricket Board, Wiltshire Cricket, Whitehall Garden Centre and Lacock Parish Council all contributed to the cost.

The club’s captain Miles Copland said: "The arrival of this new equipment moves us forward as a club with our aim to compete at the highest level.

“Our teams cancelled a record number of games because of bad weather last year and this can now be avoided. We thank our local supporters and the ECB grant scheme which will enable us in turn to contribute to their national objective of getting more cricket matches played."

The installation of the mobile cricket covers is a part of Lacock Parish Council's partnership work with the National Trust, which aims to improve facilities on its recreation ground so as to increase its use for both sports and exercise activities by the widest age range.

Wiltshire Council, through its Corsham Area Board, recently provided grant aid to Lacock to undertake an architect-led process of consultation with village organisations which will result in designs for a community sports pavilion on the site.

Peter Self, managing director of Whitehall Garden Centre added: "This is an exciting time for the Lacock Cricket Club and we are really pleased we are able to support them. We hope that with these new improved facilities it will help the teams and the wider community make better use of the village recreation ground.”