TRUSTEES of a village sports ground have been dealt a major blow after missing out on Sport England cash to improve facilities for the second time this year.

While dozens of groups in the North-East celebrated a share of nearly £2m Olympics legacy cash, officials of the Miners' Welfare Trust ground, in Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, were left reeling after their bid was rejected.

They had hoped to secure a grant from Sport England's Inspired Facilities fund to replace the crumbling 100-year-old changing rooms at the ground.

This followed an earlier unsuccessful application to Sport England for a grant to bring the ground's overgrown football pitch back into use.

In addition to the disused football field, there is a cricket pitch and all-weather arena with tennis and basketball facilities.

Although Etherley Cricket Club no longer fields a senior team, there are under-11 and under-13 teams, while Bishop Auckland club side King James CC also uses the ground.

David Dinsdale, Etherley CC welfare officer and one of the ground's trustees, said the hunt for funding to improve facilities would continue despite this latest setback.

“This should be a recreational hub for the community but we need to rejuvenate the facilities so people will come and use it,” he said.

“We have tried to get the football pitch reinstated so we can offer something other than cricket but got knocked back.

“But for all we have been knocked back again, they cannot knock the enthusiasm of the kids.”

Mr Dinsdale said such was the interest in junior cricket, an under-15 team would be set up next year in addition to the other age groups.

Eventually, he said the aim was to relaunch a senior Etherley CC side.

“We need to get some sort of help and support. Along with the parish council we are going to try to start off a fund and do some fundraising ourselves,” he said.

Another bid to Sport England's Inspired Facilities fund will also be made.

Paul Roe, chairman of the Etherley Miners' Welfare Trust, said that while the trust did have some funds, it generated very little income from ground rent which meant any financial support it could offer to improve facilities was limited.

“We have been waiting to see what happened with this grant application. Now we will have to sit down and reassess what to do,” he said.