The Anglesey club where cricket legend Matthew Maynard started his career has been given a significant boost thanks to money seized from criminals.

A £2,000 grant from the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) is enabling Menai Bridge Cricket Club to invest in a new roll-on net cage.

The Club hopes this will help the new generation of players improve their batting and bowling abilities.

PACT focuses its efforts on providing funding to community and voluntary groups.

They hope that these schemes improve people’s quality of life by reducing crime or fear of crime.

Over the last 25 years, more than 3,500 initiatives across every county in North Wales have benefited from PACT funding.

Menai Bridge Cricket Club caters for more than 100 junior members and is supported by a dedicated group of volunteers.

The Club is home to ten teams, ranging from under 9s to five senior sides, one of which is a women’s team.

PACT at Menai Bridge Cricket Club: Pictured (Right ) is Chair of P.A.C.T Ashley Rogers with PCSO Caitlin McGonigle,  PCSO David Webster and  Hari Jones.   (Image: Mandy Jones)

Club member, Evie Jones, aged 12, said: "It's good fun and I've made lots of new friends, and the new cage means we'll be able to learn how to play better cricket."

Fellow member, Ethan Wood, nine, said: "I enjoy batting and hitting the ball as hard as I can."

PACT chair, Ashley Rogers said: "I’m sure that Matthew Maynard's incredible prowess as a batsman is a source of inspiration to the new generation of cricketers like Evie and Ethan."

The chair added: "The grant allows the club to improve the facilities available to the youngsters and it is great to see monies taken out of the community by way of crime being returned to that community."

Junior's coach, Darren Owen, said: "The roll-on net cage enables us as coaches the chance to provide all teams with an opportunity to work on team related drills while freeing up further areas of the ground so other teams can do likewise."

Mr Owen added that cricket builds teamwork, decision-making skills, problem-solving abilities and fosters respect.

The funding application to PACT was supported by PCSO Caitlin McGonigle, stationed at Menai Bridge Police Station.

She said: "This project enables the club to not only continue their training sessions but also enhance them to be open up to even more people."