NELSON Cricket Club has become one of the first in the country to benefit from an injection of £9.4million into sport and the community.

The England and Wales Cricket Board chose the club to receive the windfall from the Community Club Development Programme because of its commitment to developing cricket for youngsters.

The Nelson club will receive £25,062 which will pay for a two-bay artificial nets system for practice and an artificial pitch.

Club project leader Julie Bradley said: "We are thrilled with the new facilities which will give us safe playing surfaces for our young cricketers.

"We will be able to offer more cricket opportunities for local schools and surrounding villages.

"We already have a strong junior section, but there has to be investment in children not only for the club, but for the benefit of the game. We are really grateful for the grant."

The Community Club Development programme, put together by Sport England and the Governmen, promotes stronger links between sports clubs and local communities.

The £9.4million for cricket is being distributed to clubs which show they are increasing accessibility to cricket for the community, especially younger players.

Chief executive of Sport England Roger Draper said: "The facilities are key to the local development of cricket." The club must now have a ten-year development plan approved by the ECB and provide five per cent of the money.