Primary school pupils in Breckland are benefiting from a coaching initiative to develop their cricketing skills.

The Norfolk Cricket Board's Breckland Primary Schools project will see schools in the area offered eight hours of cricket coaching each, with five qualified coaches involved in the scheme.

This will culminate in a Kwik Cricket festival at Garboldisham on Tuesday, July 12, with the project funded by Breckland Council, the Norfolk Cricket Board, the West Norwich & Dereham Schools Sports Partnership and the Breckland Schools Sports Partnership.

The Norfolk Cricket Board's cricket development officer Kevin Denmark said: 'We are grateful for the support we have received from Stefan Clifford, sports development officer at Breckland Council for this important project. We hope participation will continue to grow and that we can continue the project in years to come.'

Breckland Council leader William Nunn said: 'We are very proud of the Breckland Cricket Festival which is now in its second year and growing.

'Some 1,500 participants across eight schools were engaged on the programme last year and this year we are upping that to 15 schools.

'Working with the Norfolk Cricket Board the initiative has really helped provide quality cricket coaching to young people and strengthen the relationships between schools and sports clubs.'

Any other schools in the area wishing to take part in the festival should contact Kevin Denmark on 07876 561388.