FUNDS have been given to three south Wiltshire sports clubs to help them encourage more people to take part.

Sarum Orienteering Club, Dinton Cricket Club and Victoria Park Community Tennis Centre were among seven clubs across the county to be chosen to receive the funding from Wiltshire Council.

The cricket and orienteering clubs will each receive just over £1,500 while the tennis club, in Salisbury, will be given £800.

The grants have been made as part of the council’s Return to Sport and Sports Stars projects, which are part of the Legacy for Wiltshire, aiming to bring communities together, encourage healthy living and support future Olympians and Paralympians.

Cllr Jonathon Seed, the council’s Cabinet member for leisure, said: “The grants awarded through the Return to Sport and Sports Stars programmes will enable clubs to offer a high quality coaching scheme. At the end of the projects, clubs will provide opportunities for participants to continue to be involved in the sport on a more regular basis.”

Richard Cridge, from Dinton Cricket Club, said: “Dinton Cricket Club is always on the lookout for new players and we thought running indoor nets might be a good way to attract new members.

“We are very grateful for our Return to Sport funding grant as this has allowed us to provide nets for new members for free.”

For further information on the sports funding programme go to wiltshire.gov.uk/sportsstars.