Carlisle Cricket Club is celebrating after being awarded £5,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Asset Fund, for emergency works following flood damage.

It will be used to repair the clubhouse, conservatory, kit rooms, bars and kitchen which were badly damaged as a result of Storms Ciara and Dennis.

The recent storms and floods have devastated homes and businesses in Cumbria, while having a major impact on sports facilities, particularly pitches and water sports centres.

In February, Sport England announced emergency funding for flood and storm damage to help clean up and repair sports facilities and get them back up and running.

Work will also be undertaken on the Edenside outfield, where the current Cumbria Premier League Champions hope to start the defence of their title in April.

In the aftermath of the recent rainfall the pitch currently looks more like a park lake.

“We are delighted that Sport England has awarded this National Lottery funding to us,” said club secretary Mark Davidson.

“[It] will allow us to undertake these repairs and re-open our ground and clubhouse so that the community can once more benefit from these fantastic facilities.”

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re making emergency funding available now so when the time is right, sports organisations can pay for rebuilds and repairs quickly.

“We are delighted to be able to get this emergency funding to Carlisle Cricket Club to help it get back up and running as soon as possible.”