MEMBERS of Bromsgrove Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club are celebrating after receiving the necessary funding to construct an artificial grass pitch with flood lighting.

National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Improvement Fund gave £299,219 to the club on St Godwald’s Road, Aston Fields.

Libby Joss, chair of Bromsgrove Hockey Club, said: “It will allow hockey and other sports to sustain, develop and grow within an already established sports environment.

“It will provide a much needed facility accessible to schools, clubs and colleges in the daytime and evening who currently struggle to find suitable playing surfaces for their sports.”

Lorraine Aspland project lead said: “It has been a long and stressful process to secure the funding for this project, we have now managed to secure just over £600,000 through various funding streams so the project can go ahead.

“We are very thankful to all our funding partners; Sport England, England Hockey, National Hockey Foundation, Bromsgrove District Council and friends and members of the club for supporting the project and finally after many years making this a reality.”

The Improvement Fund helps create facilities to get more young people playing sport.

Sport England property director Charles Johnston said: “We know people have a better experience of sport when they have good facilities in which to play.

“This is why we’re investing in Bromsgrove Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club to improve their facilities so they are more appealing young people, and help us to get them developing a lifelong sporting habit.”