NEW, free to use cricket facilities will be built at a Bradford park after new plans were approved.

The England Cricket Board has helped fund a number of new cricket schemes across Bradford.

One of these will be in Myra Shay, and a planning application for cricket net practice facilities was submitted earlier this Summer.

The plans, which will see a 35 metres by 12.46 metre enclosed three lane facility built on a playing field at the site, were approved by Bradford Council this week.

Cricket boost for Bradford as new facilities planned for parks across the District

Planning officers said the site was well placed for such a facility, with good transport links. They said: "The site already benefits from a large amount of off-street parking taking access from Barkerend Road and there are good cycle links to the site, with the City Connect route travelling alongside. The site is also within walking distance of a considerable number of properties nearby and the size of this facility is considered to be aimed at a local level."

Sport England supported the plans, saying they would "encourage the wider community to engage with cricket."

Bradford Council had said that if the plans were approved work would begin in Autumn.