A pitch used by footballers in Whitburn is set to be improved after their club secured a five-figure grant from a regional development company.

The Banks Group is providing £10,000 to Whitburn Junior Football Club, via the Banks Community Fund, to help pay for improving the playing surface and drainage at the town's Central Park, where the club trains and plays its home matches.

And committee members hope that the improved facilities will both attract more players to the club, and encourage greater use of the park by people across the Whitburn community.

With origins dating back to the 1930s, Whitburn Juniors FC is managed by a 16-strong team of volunteers. Work on improving the ground is scheduled to start at the beginning of July, with a view to being completed in about a fortnight.

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Jack Wright, treasurer at Whitburn Juniors Football Club, said: "Central Park has been our home for 75 years, but it's become increasingly obvious that substantial funds are required to bring the existing facilities up to a standard reflecting the team’s successful playing abilities.

"The funding we're receiving from Banks will make a very visible, long-term difference to the success of the club, both on and off the field, and we’re extremely grateful for their support."

The Banks Group, which has offices in Hamilton, is behind plans to extract around 1.5m tonnes of coal over a seven-year period from the Rusha site, which is on agricultural land half a mile south-east of the village of Breich.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at the Banks Group, adds: "Clubs like Whitburn Juniors make a positive impact right across their local communities, most of which is down to the work of a dedicated group of volunteers.

"We're very pleased to be able to help them improve the facilities they can offer to local young people, and wish all the teams every success for future seasons."

Projects, community groups, or organisations looking for funding in the vicinity of a Banks Group development should contact Clare Johnson at The Banks Community Fund on 0191 383 0055.

(GK/JM)