YOUNGSTERS in Crawshawbooth are more than a third of the way to getting a cycle track in a former playground after a grant from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts.

The foundation, which is funded by pools promoters Littlewoods and Vernons, has awarded Crawshawbooth Youth and Community Centre £5,280 towards the scheme which, when the tax is reclaimed, will realise about £8,000.

Community worker Ailsa Haigh is delighted at the award and said: "This project has been on-going for about three years and started when a group of youngsters said there was nothing for them in Crawshawbooth and they would like a cycle track.

"Since then we have been trying to raise the money and we managed £1,500 early on and then in the last couple of weeks we have got nearly £10,000."

The goal is £32,000 and there are hopes of cash from the Lottery Awards for All and a bike track charity which could help them reach the target in the near future.

Once the total has been raised work will begin to make the bike track on the Moller Ring play area off Goodshaw Lane at the back of Crawshawbooth Primary School.

The centre is also running another project to get equipment for a play area for the under 12s at Hill Street.