CRICKET players in the Trowbridge area will need to dust off their bats and pads because a sports enthusiast has plans to set up a team in North Bradley.

Ben Howe, 36, is organising a race night to raise funds to set up a new village team and will also donate half of the night’s proceeds to Jamie Mines, the Frome man who has had a leg and part of both arms amputated after being electrocuted while working on scaffolding in December.

The race night will take place at North Bradley Peace Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 11 and Mr Howe is hoping for a good turnout.

“For a long time now there hasn’t been a lot of sporting activity in North Bradley,” said the keen Somerset Cricket Club fan, of Cygnet Way, Staverton.

“I think a proper cricket team would be a great way to bring the community together in the village as it’s played at a leisurely pace and it’s a sport players’ family members can happily spend an afternoon watching.

“Half of the money raised from the night will go towards buying a big net to protect the houses next to the pitch if any sixes are hit – which is pretty unlikely, for equipment to get us off the ground and to get the wicket up to a proper standard.”

Mr Howe used to run the North Bradley Saints football team, which has since disbanded, and held similar fundraising events for them which proved popular.

This summer he hopes to cobble a team together to play some friendly Sunday afternoon matches against local teams and would like to enter a proper team into a local league the following year, depending on interest.

His last charity race night raised more than £1,000 and he’s hoping to exceed that total this time around.

He added: “Of course we need to raise money to get the cricket team up and running but more importantly we want to raise money for Jamie.

“It’s absolutely tragic what happened to him and he has a long road to recovery ahead. My brother used to play football with him and I’ve always known him to be a really nice bloke. Any form of contribution will help.”

A raffle will also take place on the night with prizes being donated by players from Somerset Cricket Club.

Tickets are £5 and can be bought by calling Mr Howe on 07904 013052.