Members of a village cricket club which has struggled for years to hold regular matches because of the weather have been offered an all-weather pitch.

Broughton Cricket Club was set up 17 years ago after the coal board gave it some land which used to be part of the opencast coal mining site next to Little Broughton.

The new pitch will be provided by Northern Developments (Cumbria), on behalf of M-Sport.

The company is working on the £19m research facility at M-Sport's Dovenby Hall Estate.

Club secretary Ray Dobie, of Great Broughton, said: "Wet summers, and there have been many lately, have meant the cancellation of countless matches.

"This means we have not been able to do as much with the club as we would have liked to.

"This will change things a lot. We have already been approached by teams interested in using it, which is great.

"Other teams that wish to use the facility have only to ask, whether for formal, friendlies or fundraising matches.

"We also hope to do something with the local youngsters and the school.

"Cricket is very sociable, it gets people out during the summer.

"It's a great way for youngsters to get started. In fact, Ben Stokes played here as a youngster.

"We are very grateful to M-Sport and Northern Developments." 

It is hoped the new pitch will be in by the end of next month.

Mr Dobie said: "We just need two dry weeks then the plant can come on and start digging out the ground."

Louise Boak, of Northern Developments, said: "This community benefit will make cricket more accessible throughout the year to the cricket club and, we hope, schools and the wider community. We are pleased to support this on behalf of M-Sport."