A SPORTS volunteer group has applied for a cash injection from council chiefs to reinstate a former sports field.

The Friends of Square Meadow, chaired by Harry Blackwell, have applied for Section 106 funding from Blackburn with Darwen Council to make improvements to the field off Darwen's Holden Fold.

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The friends group wants the community to be able to use the land behind the old Darwen Moorland School for sports including football, cricket and archery.

Mr Blackwell applied for the cash last week which if granted will help the group to buy better grass cutting equipment, install benches, put up signs for and increase access points to the field.

Mr Blackwell said he is hopeful the money, which has become available through the demolition of the Punch Bowl Inn in Roman Road, will be granted.

He said: "I'm very keen to increase the access to the field as it has always been our intention to make sure the public can get as much use out of the grounds as possible.

"Getting some identification will also be great, for example some signs that could say something like Friends of Square Meadow community sports field so people get to know what we're doing.

"Cricket is on the cards as well as football and we've had some try outs for archery already that I was very impressed by. I'm really hopeful our bid will be successful."

At present the ground is being used during the winter by a new partnership of three Darwen junior football clubs including Darwen Rangers, Blue Star and Junior Gardeners.

The three clubs have an estimated membership of 250 youngsters and run 25 teams which are played on Saturdays and Sundays in the East Lancashire Junior Alliance and Accrington and District Junior Football League.

The group has also been working with an archery club in becoming a partner and using the sports ground in the near future.

Sudell councillor Jane Oates has supported Mr Blackwell in applying for the 106 money and is hoping that in three or four weeks the group will get some good news.

She said: "They desperately need this money to come in and they are a great group of volunteers. All the Sudell councillors are behind them including myself, Eileen Entwistle and Paul Browne."