KINGTON have been able to complete two massive club projects thanks to a government grant.

The club have relaid their main square and upgraded and refurbished the pavilion on their second ground at Lady Hawkins School after becoming one of the first clubs to benefit under the government's £9.4m Community Club Development Programme, monies which have been pledged to the England and Wales Cricket Board and are targeted at upgrading club cricket facilities.

Kington received £46,178 to help with their projects after being identified by the ECB as a club deserving support because of the strength of their junior cricket development programme.

"We were delighted to be awarded the grants because the projects were a priority need and the work undertaken has enabled the club to make significant progress," said Kington's project manager David Harris.

"We have more than 80 junior members and to increase participation further it was necessary to upgrade the second pavilion which now has a power supply and has been generally refurbished with the provision of a new toilet and shower facilities.

"We have also relaid the whole of the main 12-pitch square as it is important for us to produce good pitches which are so necessary in the development of young cricketers and for raising the playing standards of the game.

"We are grateful to the ECB for their generous support as we could not afford these projects from our own resources.

"We regard the grants as an investment in the cricket at the club for the future."

Jennie Price, the chief executive of Sport England, said: "We are delighted to make this award to Kington Cricket Club. The facility is key to the local development of cricket."