A COMMUNITY group and tennis club have joined forces to breathe new life into a ‘dilapidated’ clubhouse.

The Residents of Sunnyhurst Association (ROSA), a group which supports vulnerable neighbours in Darwen, often uses the town’s tennis club in Sunnyhurst Lane for coffee mornings.

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However, the building has holes in the floor, a lack of insulation and old fashioned facilities. Both the club and the residents are keen to get the building renovated to make it ‘warm and welcoming’.

Almost enough money has been saved to accomplish this, but the groups are now pleading for votes to try to get the rest of the cash from the Marks and Spencer Energy Fund.

Susan Haworth, club treasurer, said: “The clubhouse desperately needs refurbishing, it’s in a terrible state.

“It needs some proper insulation so that in the winter it can be warmer for people to use.

“We also keep patching up the floor which has holes in it and the kitchen is a mess, it’s just really old-fashioned.

“ROSA have been fundraising a lot but they need votes too to get this important funding.”

The M&S Energy Fund offers grants for community groups around the country who are looking to install renewable technology or energy efficiency measures.

The club, which needs £16,000 in addition to money already raised for its full renovation, would be able to install infra-red heating which can be fitted on ceilings and walls and is more economical than electric heaters in the building now.

Janet Aspin, a member of ROSA and the club management committee, said: “It is vital that we get this renovation done now, this building is falling apart.”

The Friends of Square Meadow, which is aiming to restore sport to the former Darwen Moorland High School playing field, has also applied for M&S funding. The group is looking to get lights on top of telegraph poles to illuminate part of the area for training nights to play football, cricket and archery.

Visit mandsenergyfund.com/projects to vote.