AN indoor cricket league has received an £800 boost thanks to community funding from Specsavers.

The Bishop Auckland-branch of the national glasses company has agreed to donate the money on an annual basis to the Specsavers Indoor Cricket League.

The money will be used to pay for the sports hall, equipment and running costs.

The league, which was formerly the Wear Valley Indoor Cricket League, contains eight teams.

League chairman Kevin Armstrong said: “Without this money we would really struggle. We would probably keep our heads above water, but this makes a real difference.

“It is hard work putting on the league, but everyone enjoys it. The new season has just started and it will run until February.”

Dale and Valley Homes has also donated £200 and Councillor Anita Savoury pays for the trophies each year.

Specsavers director Tim Mitchison said: “We like to support the local community. It is not just cricket. We have done this for other sports like basketball.

“We are a community store and we like to support community sports. It can often be quite expensive to put these things on so we like to help when we can.”