THE village cricket club where England star Paul Collingwood learned his craft has been recognised for excellence in coaching youngsters.

Shotley Bridge Cricket Club, near Consett, has joined the elite of amateur clubs by earning a coveted Sport England Clubmark.

The status is only given to clubs whose junior sections meet stringent tests on the quality of their coaching, the safety of their environment for children and their commitment to youngsters of all abilities and backgrounds.

Only about three per cent of the country's cricket clubs have achieved Clubmark status and Shotley Bridge is the first in Derwentside.

Hilary Nesbit, the club's junior development officer, said: "Getting a Clubmark is a great thing for us and opens up a lot more opportunities. It means that parents know their children are in safe hands and get the best possible grounding in cricket skills.

"Not everyone can be a Paul Collingwood but learning an enjoyment of the game is just as important."

It is a huge achievement for the club, which had to resign from the Fosters Northumberland and Tyneside U15 League because it was desperately short of young players four years ago.

Club bosses set up a dedicated coaching and development night to try to attract new youngsters and now have 132 boys and girls registered between the ages of five and 15 years.

Mrs Nesbit said they had been so successful in attracting youngsters that there was now a waiting list.

She said: "It's fabulous to see so many children here every week and I know there are some future stars in the making.

"It's taken a lot of hard work by the club, our parents and all our volunteer coaches who turn out week in week out."