Ambitious Dales Council League cricket club Hepworth & Idle have forked out almost £12,000 on levelling their playing area.

Brian Heaton, who has just resigned as club chairman but will take over the club’s presidency next year, said: “It is something we have wanted to do for a number of years.

“We have spent £11,900 on levelling the outfield and repositioning the square. It was to one side but now the boundary is 45 metres away all the way round the ground.

“When we have looked to get into other leagues, these are two things that have been mentioned as holding us back so we decided to do something about it.

“We have received a lot of help from the Bradford Area North committee, and particularly Councillor David Ward, but we have also been aided by other councillors.”

The levelling of the outfield and moving of the square are just the latest projects undertaken by the club, who have a decent junior section.

In the recent past, Hepworth & Idle have built a new clubhouse and scorebox. Next on their hit list is refurbishment of the practice nets.