CRICKET in the Settle area has received a substantial boost as a result of Settle Cricket Club completing a £2,000 sponsorship package.

A £1,000 sponsorship from Kirkby Lonsdale based Border Asset Management, has been matched pound for pound under the government's Sportsmatch scheme, a business sponsorship incentive programme which has given thousands of sports clubs across the country a major boost.

Settle aim to use the funding to boost junior cricket in the area with a number of initiatives, including providing ECB-qualified coaches to local schools.

A number of schools have already responded to approaches by the club, which also intends to launch an Under-11 side to play on Sundays in the Airedale Junior Cricket League.

Settle CC Chairman, Anthony Bradley said: "We are pleased and privileged to have both Border Asset Management and Sportsmatch as our partners in what will be a significant boost for junior cricket in Settle and district.

"We are acutely aware of the pressures that schools are under to provide resources for sports for local children. If cricket is to continue to flourish, clubs need to work together with schools to introduce children to the joys and skills of cricket at an early age and then provide them with a path to lifelong enjoyment of the game."