A SOUTH Lakeland school has received a large grant to provide cricket development opportunities for pupils and local clubs.

The England and Wales Cricket Board, in partnership with Sport England, has awarded Sedbergh School £149,879 towards the cost of a six bay synthetic practice area and state-of-the-art indoor net facilities.

It will add to the school’s impressive complex of five pitches including the county standard main pitch which is widely recognised as being one of the most scenic in the country. The cost of the whole project is £199,839.

The school was identified by the Cumbria Cricket Board and by the ECB as a shool of strategic and developmental importance.

“The provision of a six bay synthetic practice area and the upgrade of the indoor cricket school – including lighting, nets and mat pitches – will mean that Sedbergh School will be the focus for cricket development in Cumbria,” said the school’s bursar Peter Marshall. “As an independent school we are pleased to have these wonderful facilities which are also available to the Cumbria Cricket Board for the benefit of the community.”

The school has eight senior cricket teams, three junior sides and a girls team.

Bob Simpson, the Cricket Development Manager for the Cumbria Cricket Board, said: “We are really pleased with the partnership arrangement with the school as this enabled us to secure the grant which will provide cricket development opportunities for the pupils at the School and also local clubs such as Kendal, Netherfield, Burneside and Kirkby Stephen.”