A NEW £260,000 clubhouse which, it is hoped, will unite the community will be opened at Edgworth Cricket Club next week.

An open evening will be held on January 134 at the Bolton Road ground to mark completion of the pavilion.

The club successfully bid for £159,616 from the Sport England Lottery Fund after three years of toil by members.

Over the past 12 months the ground has been refurbished and a new club house with a clock tower installed.

Development officer Steve Simpson, 58, said: "We know cricket has been played here for at least 100 years and during that time there has been more than one serious threat to this club's future, most recently during this grant application to Sport England when it was touch-and-go.

"This clubhouse and development of the ground means our long-term future is secure"

There is now a licensed social club, two-thirds of which has been paid for by a cash from Sport England and the rest was raised by the club.

The club had to prove it met crucial criteria about multi-purpose community use and had to demonstrate that it had in place development programmes for junior cricket and for tennis, rounders and a running club. Local schools will use the ground for sport and the clubhouse will alsobe used for daytime social events for the village's elderly.

A second phase bid will be made to Sport England towards improving the changing rooms.

Steve said: "This new clubhouse will be the catalyst for the club's complete rejuvenation as a social and community centre for the village."

Ian Waddicar, chairman of the club which plays in the Bolton Association, said: "Instead of being Edgworth Cricket Club, we decided to rename it Edgworth Cricket and Recreational Club to enable us to provide more sports for the local community."