WORK to replace a village’s rundown cricket pavilion with a £330,000 sports facility is set to begin in January thanks to a National Lottery grant.

Ferryhill Town Council has received £75,000 from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund to create a new pavilion at Mainsforth Sports Complex.

The building will replace the dilapidated cricket pavilion, which was at risk of being condemned on health and safety grounds.

Planning permission has already been secured and construction is likely to begin in January.

Once complete, the pavilion will provide a base for Mainsforth Cricket Club and Ferryhill Wheelers Club.

It is hoped schools and other sports groups will also make use of the facility, which is expected to cost around £330,000.

Councillor Pauline Crathorne, the Mayor of Ferryhill, said: “This investment by Sport England is fantastic news.

“There has always been a strong sporting tradition in the area and this money is an investment in young people both today and in the future which will enable top class sports training to be delivered in top class facilities.”

Karen Younghusband, grants and project officer at Ferryhill Town Council, added: “It is the cornerstone of the council’s strategy to have an outstanding sports facility to build on the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games.”

As well as the National Lottery funding, the town council is contributing £50,000, Lafarge Tarmac has donated £100,000 from its communities fund and local councillors Brian Avery, Pauline Crathorne and Pat McCourt have donated £55,000 from their neighbourhood budgets.

The council has applied to the England Cricket Board for the remaining £50,000 required.

Since 2011, the Inspired Facilities fund has used National Lottery money to breathe new life into tired community sports buildings.

Charles Johnston, Sport England property director, said: “We’ve invested £94 million into more than 1,800 projects to improve and refurbish sports clubs and transform non-sporting venues into vibrant community sports clubs.

“It’s great to see Ferryhill Town Council working in partnership with local Sports Clubs to join the long list of successful applicants to benefit from this fund.”

For more information about the project please contact 01740-652157.