LEWDOWN Cricket Club has been selected to join 'Chance to Shine supported by Brit Insurance' - a nationwide programme run by the Cricket Foundation which aims to regenerate competitive cricket in a third of all state schools by 2015. Hundreds of children in primary and secondary state schools in West Devon will enjoy the benefits of competitive cricket this summer.

The cricket club is one of 500 Chance to Shine clubs across the English Cricket Board club network delivering a high quality coaching and competition programme to a cluster of six local primary and secondary schools. Local schools that will benefit from the programme include Okehampton College as well as Lew Trenchard, Bridestowe, Boasley Cross, Lydford and Lifton primaries.

Brenden Worth, Lewdown CC's development manager and lead coach said: 'We are delighted to have been selected to participate in Chance to Shine. We hope that our high quality coaching in local state schools will have a huge impact. We aim to forge strong links with local schools to change the shape of cricket provision and participation in the local area.'

Steve Peyman, operations director at the Cricket Foundation, said: 'Our clubs are the backbone of Chance to Shine and are critical to the success of the programme. Through Lewdown CC's involvement, not only will more children will have the chance to play competitive cricket but local school teachers will also have the opportunity to learn from professional coaches.'

England's Ashes winner and Chance to Shine ambassador, Graeme Swann said: 'I went to a state school which didn't play cricket but was lucky enough to be given the chance to play because of my dad. But there are literally millions of youngsters out there who will never be given the opportunity and that is sad.

'What 'Chance to Shine" has done is fantastic and if, through them, we unearth another Ian Botham, Kevin Pietersen or Freddie Flintoff then great; but the main aim is just to get more people playing from an early age and encourage them to play the game at whatever level they are comfortable with.'

n For details call Brenden on 07889 518 433 or email him on [email protected]">[email protected]