ACCRINGTON Cricket Club are confident they will get the green light to create a school of excellence when council officials meet next month.

The Lancashire League outfit have already met with members of Hyndburn Council's planning department to thrash out plans for the ambitious £2 million project.

If the application is successful it will take sport in the borough into a new era with plans to build an indoor cricket centre and sports hall to coach youngsters in a wide range of sports.

The major refurbishment at the Thorneyholme Road ground also includes new pavilion and function room, alterations and extensions to spectator terracing and a new car park.

Club chairman Peter Barratt said: "This is an exciting project and aims to improve sporting facilities for youngsters in the borough. We met with council officials last week to discuss the plans and we are very confident we will get the go ahead."

He added: "Not only will it be a centre of excellence for cricket but we hope to have a team of full-time staff to coach other sports including tennis, basketball and football."

The club will await the council's final decision before applying for cash aid from National Lottery.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.