A CRICKET club is hoping to secure nearly £100,000 of lottery cash if it gets planning consent to develop its pavilion.

Padiham CC has 200 members and seven teams, including four junior sides.

Secretary Brian Shirtcliffe said since the club's pavilion, on Arbory Drive, was built in 1947 it has had little money spent on it and was in need of re-roofing.

The work has been incorporated in a wider extension and refurbishment scheme which is now being considered by Burnley Council. Mr Shirtcliffe said: "We want to extend the premises and make two new dressing rooms with showers and the existing dressing rooms will be knocked through to make the pavilion hall larger.

"We will make the hall better for spectators because some summer days can be quite cold and we want new lights and heating.

"We already hire the pavilion out for functions and Padiham Camera Club meet here. We are wanting to attract other clubs to use the facilities and feel if we make the changes it will be an ideal meeting place.

"If other clubs come forward to use the facility it will strengthen our lottery application."

The club's ladies' committee has raised money to buy new cricket nets for practice and another £1,500 has been raised to replace the scoreboard for next season.

Mr Shirtcliffe said a lottery bid for £70,000 to £100,000 would be made once the club had received planning permission.

The club would have to find about 10 per cent of the money and that would be achieved through the 200 club draw, sportsman's dinners, the bar, raffles and other events.

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