RAWTENSTALL Cricket Club are asking for fair play in the promotion of youth sport.

The club has written to Rossendale Council asking for financial support.

They are asking for 50 per cent financial backing to promote and develop a cricket school of excellence which they hope to run during the spring bank or summer holidays.

They also want support to allow them to continue to act as hosts for the Rossendale primary schools' softball cricket competition and to develop and improve the primary schools' hardball competition, from which the winners go forward to represent the Valley in the Lancashire area finals.

The club's chairman of finance Peter Barnes said: "Our estimated cost of carrying out the events is about £5,000. We would greatly appreciate 50 per cent of the funds which we would match."

The application will be discussed by members of the leisure and economic development committee on Tuesday.

A report by acting leisure officer Ken Claxon says that the cricket club had supported both the council and Rossendale schools by hosting various competitions promoting cricket development.

He says the club has a very active youth section including supporting girls' cricket development.

Mr Claxon adds: "The council has relied on local sporting bodies such as the cricket club to deliver sports development for young people but has little funding to support these organisations.

"The situation at present has not changed."

The committee will be asked to consider the application. No recommendation has been made.