DEVON County Cricket team is joining forces with an Okehampton opticians to promote a brighter future for the game in the county.

Okehampton is one of 17 Devon Specsavers branches that have pledged £235 to support the club during the upcoming season. The funds will be used to pay for transportation and the development of the County XI and the Devon Lion youth squads.

The store will also be hosting fundraising days to raise money for the David Shepherd Cricket Foundation — dedicated to nurturing and promoting youth talent in the county, including inspiring disadvantaged young people to improve their lives through cricket.

Kath Dandy, store director of Specsavers Okehampton said: 'It's great to be supporting the county cricket club, and being part of helping the young and talented people in our region.

'As a local business we like to assist in the community whenever we can, and we will endeavour to have some fun fundraisers to support throughout the sponsorship.'

Neil Gamble, Chief executive officer of Devon County Cricket, said: 'The club is always looking to progess and the support of businesses such as Specsavers Okehampton will enable us to do just that.

'The David Shepherd Cricket Foundation is such an important mission for the club, as finding and developing local talent is the key to continuing the recent successes of both our county squad and the England team.'

ABOVE:?Chief executive officer of Devon County Cricket Neil Gamble, wicket keeper Pete Randerson, Kath Dandy, store director of Specsavers Okehampton, Tim Western high performance manager of Devon Lions and Joe Hill, director of Specsavers Exeter and partnership organiser.