A Workington man has joined the efforts of a football club to provide a playing pitch for its teams.

Bill Hoodless, 73, of Vulcans Lane, is helping Seaton Junior Football Club develop the field at Meadow Vale, Seaton, into a fit-for-purpose football pitch in time for the next season.

Bill read the club’s plea for help in the Times & Star and decided to lend his expertise and help with practical work on the ground.

The retired horticulturist and sports pitch specialist said: “What they’re trying to do is brilliant, that’s why I wanted to give my support.

“I’m a volunteer with Sustrans and I know how important it is to have a bunch of good volunteers.

“I know the playing field in Seaton because I levelled it off when I was working as a contractor for local authorities. I know the area and the pitch well.

“The project that the football club has is a really good community project.”

The football club has been fundraising since last year to reach the £10,000 target needed to carry out the work.

They have already raised more than £7,000 thanks to sponsorship and events and they are hoping the pitch will be ready for the start of the season in August.

The coaches currently have to rent local training centres and rely on the loan of other local teams’ playing grounds.

Bill, who has been a judge for Cumbria in Bloom and the Green Flag awards, said volunteering for the club is helping him deal with the loss of his wife Anne 10 months ago.

He said: “It gets me out of the house and it keeps me busy. I’m happy to help the club. They are a bunch of people who care about the children and the community.”

The club is appealing to people to donate unwanted clothing for their cash4clothes initiative to raise the remaining cash.

Anyone wanting to donate can bag up clean unwanted clothes and shoes and leave at the storage container at the Meadow Vale pitch.

They are also holding a bag pack at Asda at Dunmail Park on April 22, a duck race on April 23 and are appealing for businesses to contact them to advertise with a pitch side board.

For more information call Mr Tyler on 07530574701.