More than 30 volunteers took part in a pre-season Cricketforce spring clean at Newcastle Cricket Club in Jesmond. And their efforts were appreciated by more than 300 visitors who turned up at an open day to see the results.

England cricketer Danielle Hazell guest-starred, taking part in cricket coaching for young people and seeing the improvements around the ground.

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Hazell, who is 21 and from Durham, praised the hard work of all the volunteers – coaches and cricketforce workers. “Getting involved in your local cricket club like this is great fun. You meet new friends, you’re out in the sun, you get out of the house. You don’t need to have been involved with cricket before to enjoy it.”

Newcastle Cricket Club junior Alexei Phillips turned video journalist for the day to record an interview with the England international, while Gosforth Community Choir performed for visitors (see slideshow) in the Osborne Avenue clubhouse.

Work carried out during the spring clean included:

• Boundary fence painted white
• Painting dressing room and stair railings
• Painting balcony
• Preservation work on benches right around the ground
• Clearing moss and weeds – a dozen bags collected!
• Springclean of kitchen and storage cellar

The club’s Cricketforce work this year especially benefitted from the Community RePaint scheme, obtaining most of the paint needed from leftovers donated by stores.

While boys and girls took part in coaching, visitors to the open day could see for themselves why the Jesmond ground has won the North East Premier League “Ground of the Year” award two years running.

Junior co-ordinator Neil Curry said: “The junior section is expanding every year, and we’re especially pleased that more girls are getting involved. No previous experience is needed.”

More details of how to get involved are provided on the club’s website: www.newcastlecc.co.uk