IT will be all hands to the deck next weekend when Settle Cricket Club members take part in NatWest CricketForce.

The ECB-backed project - which takes place on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 - will see thousands of volunteers at cricket clubs across the country undertake renovations to their clubhouses and grounds and, as one of the county's focus clubs, Settle are taking part.

The Ribblesdale League side are hoping to build a new clubhouse for the 2006 season, but in the meantime, their current facilities are in desperate need of a makeover ahead of the new campaign.

Chairman Malcolm Dodgson said: "We are seeking help from as many people as possible, young and old, members and non-members, in a one-off effort to bring the very tired clubhouse, changing rooms, site boards, scoreboard & surrounding walls into tip-top condition for the coming season.

"We have all the necessary materials, some of which have been kindly donated, but are hoping the manpower will now come forward to make the weekend a success."

Meanwhile, the campaign to raise funds for the new clubhouse has been going well and Mr Dodgson said he hoped the scheme would get the official go-ahead next month.

The recent 'Buy A Brick' appeal has so far raised in the region of £8,500, with donations still coming in.

Mr Dodgson added: "This is largely down to the efforts of Mac Davidson to whom the cricket club would like to say a big thank-you. Mac simply doesn't take no for an answer and if anyone is looking for a debt-collector, he's your man! I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated. The club is extremely grateful.

"There are still one or two final hurdles to clear on the proposed new building, but due to club sponsors, people's generosity and a huge effort by a local builder to meet the club's budget for the build, I am fairly confident that by the start of the 2006 season we will have a new clubhouse on the ground."

At the start of this year, the club thought it might need to raise in the region of £30,000 by the April deadline set by Sport England, who are providing the main source of funding. But estimated building costs have proved to be not as high as first thought.