Sports facilities in Garboldisham have been given a boost after the village was awarded a large amount of funding.

Sports facilities in Garboldisham have been given a boost after the village was awarded a large amount of funding.

Two separate funding bids for £10,340, for the cricket club and the recreation ground, have been accepted by Breckland Council.

The cricket club will receive £5,900 to refurbish their 25-year-old shower and toilet facilities and the multi- purpose area at the recreation ground will be partially resurfaced with its £4,440 grant.

Garboldisham has a thriving cricket community, with four Saturday league teams, a friendlies side, an over 40's team, a ladies team and 100-member youth section.

The village also hosts county matches and refurbished facilities will enable the club to host even more functions in the future.

Peter Barnes, fixtures and fundraising secretary at Garboldisham Cricket Club, said: 'Our main toilets and shower area has been in place for 25 years and needs a revamp.

'We're delighted to receive this funding as it means we can push ahead with plans to replace these facilities, as well as laying new flooring which can withstand cricket spikes and repaint the areas with waterproof paint. It will make a real difference to everyone.'

A section of the surfaced multi-purpose games area at the recreation ground has been damaged by tree roots. The funding will go towards the cost of repairing the section and repainting the playing lines.

Mary Anne Feakes, chairman of Garboldisham Parish Council, said: 'The games area is used by residents of all ages from the community of Garboldisham and also further afield. Tree roots have damaged the surface making it uneven and difficult to play on.

'This funding will mean that we can restore the area to its previous good condition and work to mitigate the root damage can begin forthwith. This is good news for not only Garboldisham, but the surrounding areas.'

The funding will come from Breckland's Sport and Play Fund which is sourced from housing developers who, as part of their planning permission, are required to make recreational contributions towards improving local play and sports facilities.

Last month, Breckland announced £11,000 from the funding pot would be released to support projects in Tittleshall, Necton and Great Ellingham.