RESIDENTS are being urged to back a campaign to improve Yarm's ageing sporting facilities.

Yarm Recreation Ground Trust was established in 1921 to provide facilities for the town's residents to play sport. Eighty years on it is launching a project to develop and improve the facilities.

Plans include; enlarging changing rooms, creating a new cricket pavilion and fourth squash court, improving social facilities, and developing a general activity room and fitness room.

Paul Thompson, chairman of the trust, responsible for the recreation ground in Leven Road, said: "People all around the town use the facilities and they are very popular, with us having to turn people away because we can't meet the demand.

"I believe people get a lot more out of playing for a club like ours. It helps boost community spirit.

"The town is lacking in major sporting facilities. Our population has almost trebled since the town was built and there just aren't enough sporting facilities."

One of the facilities used most during the summer months is the cricket pavilion, which was built soon after the trust was created in 1921.

Mr Thompson said: "The pavilion looks like it did in 1921 only a bit more deteriorated. The earth has shifted a little bit and it just needs a major renovation to bring it up to standard.

"Quite rightly, the cricket league have very high standards and we have to comply with them, but we can't do this if we don't have a new building or at least a re-vamp."

The trust hopes to get funding from the National Lottery and is keeping in touch with Stockton Borough Council and Sport England to report progress. However, it would like to hear residents' opinions.

Mr Thompson said: "The trust is very keen to hear ideas from potential new users of the facilities, be they teams, clubs or individuals as well as existing users."

He can be contacted on (01642) 782986.