A recreation ground has received a donation of £1,400 to support a wide range of activities and events held there.

The donation for Feniscowles & Pleasington war memorial recreation ground in Blackburn has come from housebuilders Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes.

The 12-acre park is close to the developers’ Riven Stones and Bernets Nook sites.

As well as being a war memorial for the men and women who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars and subsequent conflicts, the site’s facilities are used by local sports teams.

Part of the donation was used to sponsor a football match which took place on October 14 between Feniscowles & Pleasington FC and Mill Hill St Peter’s in the East Lancashire Premier Division.

Jason Boyle, director of football at Feniscowles & Pleasington, said: “We’d like to thank Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes for the generous donation to the recreational ground which also sponsored both our match against Mill Hill St Peter’s and will be put towards another match sponsorship next year.”

The donation will also be used to sponsor the junior team of Feniscowles Cricket Club for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and has enabled trustees to purchase gravel to improve the footpaths of the venue’s heritage site.

Jane Green, chair of the trustees for the recreation ground, said: “It is so nice to have a local business support us in our quest to maintain this excellent facility for our community.

“The grounds are wholly maintained by the charity who rely on the profit from Feni Rec Bar and donations such as these.

“Costs have increased over the past few years, which makes it all the more difficult to raise the funds that make all the difference.”

Sam Evans, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey Manchester, added: “We are thrilled to sponsor the Feniscowles & Pleasington FC v Mill Hill St Peter’s game and also support Feniscowles & Pleasington war memorial recreation ground which has been an integral part of Blackburn for more than a century.”

Rhys Nicholson, managing director of Barratt Homes Manchester, also said: “We are delighted to help Feniscowles & Pleasington war memorial recreation ground not only with making improvements to the grounds, but also supporting the local sports clubs which use these amenities.”