MORECAMBE'S lady cricketers will soon be bowling maiden overs as easily as the men when new facilities are installed at the Woodhill Lane Ground.

A £111,129 grant towards the £168,629 total cost of a new extension to the clubhouse has been presented to Morecambe Cricket Club by the Sport England Lottery Fund for the Northwest.

The extension will include a brand new office, activity room and changing rooms.

Toilet facilities will also be upgraded to be more suitable for men and women.

The Bay Northern Premier League outfit now has high hopes of introducing a set up for women to match the successful men's team.

The club has already held successfully Lancashire ladies competitions and now has plans to develop a junior female team in the resort.

Announcing the grant, Sport England's Regional Director for the North-West, Sheldon Phillips, said: "This month's awards are a terrific start to 2002 and will boost the region's facility provision.

"These new facilities will provide excellent opportunities for a variety of levels of participation."