PURTON Cricket Club have struck a deal with the local parish council to return the sport to Lydiard Millicent in 2014.

Following their promotion into the West of England Premier League Wiltshire Division, Purton have set up a third team which has been accepted into the Wiltshire Cricket League Division Seven and will plays its home games at Lydiard Millicent’s Chestnut Springs ground which has not been in use since the village’s own side became defunct.

Fraser Conway will captain Purton’s third string, which is now actively recruiting new players.

Tom Pepperall of Lydiard Millicent Parish Council said: “We are pleased to see cricket coming back to the village on a Saturday afternoon and hope the whole village embrace this and come out and support the team.

“We also hope to see some Lydiard Millicent residents sign up to play in their home village.”

Purton chairman Matthew Bull said: “This is something we have been looking to put together for a while.

“We are dedicated to providing cricket at all levels and by implementing a third team, it also allows our junior players somewhere to go as an introduction into senior cricket.

“We are really excited to be working with Lydiard Millicent on this programme and, if successful, we will look into implementing another team in the next couple of years.

“The facilities at Chestnut Springs are fantastic and this whole program compliments the direction we are looking to take the club towards”

Anyone interested in playing for Purton should visit the club’s website – www.purtoncc.co.uk – for more information.