Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club have purchased a sparkly new ride-on grass cutter costing £8,000 after securing funding through the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP).
The grass cutter, although secured by the cricket section, will be used by Newton Aycliffe Sports Club to help keep their cricket, rugby and football pitches in top condition.
Newton Aycliffe Sports Club is home to the senior cricket, football and rugby teams on the town.
Cricket Club chairman Ian Palmer, who applied for the funding, said: “The Sports Club provides a platform for many on the town to both participate and watch high level sport with teams in the Northern Football League, the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League and the Durham & Northumberland RFU League.
“It is important that the pitches are kept in top condition to enhance everybody’s enjoyment and this machine will help the ground staff down the club to make this happen.
“We would like to thank GAMP and the local town councillors who have long been great supporters of what our sports clubs are trying to achieve and have once more stepped up in supporting this purchase.
“The previous ride-on grass cutter became unserviceable a few years ago and has meant that the club have had to pay an outside contractor to come in and cut the pitches.
“This added expense was becoming unmanageable and, as well as reducing costs, the purchase of this machine gives all the sporting sections greater flexibility to make sure pitches are cut as and when required, thereby improving the quality of the playing surfaces.”