A £265,000 refurbishment of a sports club is now underway - with work set to be completed in time for the new cricket season in April.

Improvements are being made to the clubhouse at Vernon Carus Sports Club in Preston, as well as the changing rooms and scoreboard thanks to investment from South Ribble Borough Council.

The upgraded facility is intended to be the focal point of a top-class sports and community hub in Penwortham ­- made possible after cabinet members approved a transfer of more than 18 acres of land into council ownership last September.

These initial works were decided upon following meetings with club representatives.

They also include roof repairs and energy efficiency measures such as the installation of double glazing.

Once complete, the improved clubhouse will provide a real boost to the club's cricket, football, boxing and bowling sections.

Deputy Leader of South Ribble Borough Council and cabinet member for health and wellbeing, Cllr Mick Titherington, said: "This is yet another example of our commitment to providing the best sporting facilities for our residents - encouraging more and more people to 'Leisure Local'.

"The long-term potential for Vernon Carus Sports Club and the surrounding area is absolutely enormous, and our first step is to give the existing sports club the investment it deserves.

"We're really pleased we've been able to begin work on the site so quickly so that everything can be in place for start of the new cricket season and the busy summer months - and we hope everyone will be bowled over by the end results!"

Don Parker, chairman of Vernon Carus Sports Club, said: "With this amazing support from South Ribble Borough Council we are hoping the club can truly go from strength-to-strength.

"We want to make this a real hub for the local community, with football, boxing, bowls and cricket all side-by-side and the possibility of expanding into more sports in the future.

"Improving the clubhouse is an exciting first step and means we will be able to host more functions, raising more money which can in turn be invested back into sport.

"Once completed, we hope people from every section of our community will come down and get involved.

"We look forward to welcoming people of all ages and from all different backgrounds."

The Vernon Carus site, comprising some 11.42 acres of land north of Factory Lane, is in the process of being transferred to council ownership from Lane End Developments Construction Ltd - along with a further 5.76 acres at Penwortham Reservoir.