THIS year's Citizen/Crown Paints Community Awards has a distinctive sporty flavour with local groups jumping at the chance of a share of the £4,000 bounty.

Cricket, football and kick boxing clubs have all returned their applications for this year's record breaking entry, all applying for grants to improve facilities for the community.

St Francis Cricket Club has applied for £700 towards their lawn mower appeal to reduce its annual grass cutting costs of £400 and become self sufficient.

An appeal for £600 to buy a new generator to power outdoor lighting has been submitted by Darwen Cricket Club Football Club so that members can train in the evening.

And the newly formed St Aidan's Junior Football Club have applied for £450 to buy a new strip while Darwen Town Youth Football Club need £200 to purchase new footballs and nets for the coming season.

Time is running out to apply for your community award application form with the July 23 deadline fast approaching. The awards will be judged by a panel of representatives from Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings (Crown Paints) and Citizen Newspapers.

Local branches of national charities, political parties, and groups who received a Community Award in 1996 are not eligible.

All entries should be sent to Community Awards, Citizen Newsdesk, Newspaper House, High Street, Blackburn BB1 1HT.

Application forms are available by ringing the Newsdesk on 671241.

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