Wigton Rugby Club has smashed its fundraising target to install new floodlights following a three week crowdfunding campaign. 

The club needed to raise £85,000 to get the project off the ground and thanks to the efforts of supporters and charitable grants, they have now reached this figure.

Crowdfunding raised £13,000 and the other £72,000 was raised through grants from UKSPF Sport, Sport England Movement Fund, Cumbria Community Foundation, Joyce Wilkinson Foundation, Thomas Graham Charitable Fund and CCL. 

A spokesperson for the club said: "We would like to thank everybody who has contributed to this project through charitable grants, donations, sponsorship, personal fundraising and volunteering – we really couldn’t have done it without you."

Supporters who made donations to the crowdfunding campaign could claim rewards such as competition entries and player sponsorship. They also received support from 24 businesses.

Contractor meetings have already been held and they are hoping to have completed the project by mid-October.