SPORTS funds in East Lancashire have received a bumper £900,000 share of the National Lottery treasure chest.

As lottery ticket sales rocketed over the weekend, news filtered through that the area is to receive a record shareout in National Lottery Sports Fund Awards.

Cricketers were bowled over after learning they had been awarded £64,000 towards the £130,000 needed to carry out major renovation work at Cherry Tree Cricket Club in Blackburn.

Work could soon be under way to construct a two-storey clubhouse with changing facilities, to create new car parks, refurbish tennis courts and upgrade an artificial wicket.

Club chairman, Brian Woodhouse, said: "We are absolutely delighted.

"People have put a lot of work into compiling this application and this has made it worth the while. "This will provide the basis for further expansion and development of the cricket club and enable the club to fund cricket, tennis and other facilities for a long time to come."

St Mary's College in Blackburn has also scooped a hefty £77,000 towards costs of £154,000 for extending the changing facilities at the college sports hall.

Additional changing rooms, a reception area and a new sports hall carpet will further enhance community use.

Jan Gedzieleski, finance director at the college, said: "This is great news. This project will significantly improve both the indoor and outdoor facilities for students and the local community."

Darwen Leisure Centre will get the long-awaited refurbishment thanks to a National Lottery grant of £148,000 awarded to Blackburn Borough Council.

The cash will go towards the total cost of £228,000 to upgrade and modernise the leisure centre including refurbishment of wet changing areas for family and disabled use, provision of ramp access and lift, and relocation of fitness facilities and cafe areas. Peter Brown, manager at the leisure centre, said: "This is tremendous news. We have waited years for these refurbishments which will benefit all, especially disabled users."

Burnley took the gold medal as East Lancashire raced to success in the National Lottery sports cash dash.

The town is on track for a major athletics boost after scooping a £437,000 lottery award - which will trigger a £717,000 improvement project at Barden sports track.

It is the first time Burnley has taken a podium place in the Sports Council contest and it has done it in style.

The award means the old shale athletics track will be converted to synthetic surface and floodlit; the changing block will be totally refurbished; the football pitch in the centre of the track levelled and re-turfed and the athletic field event area upgraded.

In addition a new community hall will be built onto the existing Burnley Boys' Club headquarters.

The council, which will put Challenge Fund cash towards the project, linked with other contributors, Burnley Athletic Club, Boys' Club and Burnley United AFC to make the bid.

Council chiefs were today delighted with the news. "A great deal of work has gone into putting the bid together and this makes it all very worthwhile," said co-ordinator, Judith Forshaw.

She added that work on the scheme is expected to start by June, with the phased project completed in 1997.

And the South Pennine Packhorse Trails Trust, which is sponsored by the Nelson-based Marsden Building Society, has been given a £171,000 award to help restore more than 400 square miles of 17th century bridleways and byways in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The Trust, whose leading light is Lady Mary Towneley from Burnley, wants to spend £348,000 to create a recreational network for horse riders, carriage drivers and cyclists.

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