A TAVISTOCK sports club is to receive a boost in its expansion plans, with the award of a grant from Devon County Council.

The Sir Francis Drake Bowling Club has embarked on an ambitious £120,000 fundraising campaign, which members hope will have come to fruition by the time the club celebrates its centenary in two years' time.

Chairman of the fundraising committee Sue Silcox said: 'We would like to build a large extension which would enable us to incorporate short mat bowling at our club, because at the moment, the short mat players play at the college, because the club house just isn't big enough.

'Equally importantly, we really want to extend the facilities at the club to the wider community, so perhaps we could have a skittles team as part of the club, and be ble to use it for more social events.'

The plan would extend the clubhouse into an L-shaped building with a viewing area over the bowling green.

Sue said: 'Unfortunately, bowls is often thought of as an older person's sport, but actually it's growing in popularity, and in Devon we have some really world class players, such as Natalie Memmore and Sam Tolchard, who are in their 20s.

'Natalie is actually competing in the world ladies' championships in Kuala Lumpur for England at the moment.

'We would love the club to become more of a social facility and to encourage younger people from the college to have a go at bowls, as well as older people, maybe from the residential homes.'

Sir Francis Drake Bowling Club currently has around 46 playing men and 30 playing women, plus social members. The playing season runs from April to September — short mat bowls are played during the winter season.

'We would have a year-round facility if we could extend the club,' said Sue.

She said the club was very grateful to Tavistock county councillor Debo Sellis, who has awarded it £2,500 from her locality budget towards the expansion scheme.

The club is also applying for grants from a number of organisations and funding bodies.

Cllr Sellis said: 'I am delighted to support a local sports club which offers so much enjoyment to many residents of all ages.

'It is a wonderful tourist attraction with visitors being able to play in Tavistock; the birth place of Sir Francis Drake.

'I wish them all the best in fundraising and hope that local residents will give some support in their campaign.'