CRICKET clubs in West Northumberland are targeting children at an earlier age.

For five of the district’s clubs have signed up for the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) new grassroots initiative, All Stars Cricket, aimed to get more children aged between five and eight involved in the game.

Wylam, Allendale, Stocksfield, Corbridge and Tynedale will all run camps for keen children later this month.

The ECB is hoping its first nationwide, entry-level participation program will inspire a new generation, as well as helping recruit more volunteers into the game as the sessions focus heavily on parental involvement and participation.

The training will be held over eight sessions over a period of time, although Tynedale will hold all eight within a four-day summer camp between July 24 and 28.

Corbridge’s involvement starts on May 19, Wylam will welcome youngsters on May 22, and both Allendale and Stocksfield will start their sessions on May 25.

Children who sign up for the programme will receive a personalised t-shirt, a bag, a cap, a water bottle and a ball.

Northumberland Cricket Board’s All Stars Cricket Champion, Ben Cuthbertson, said: “All Stars Cricket will provide the best first experience of cricket for your child, as this is cricket like it’s never been seen before. Through the programme, we hope to not only win over the child’s love for the game, but also the parents’.

“The activities and sessions are designed to get the parents involved, and allow for them to spend a quality hour with their child, having fun and taking part.

“The children can achieve their own personal bests and attempt to beat their own targets, and they will feel an even greater sense of achievement doing that with their man or dad during a session and then receiving an All Stars sticker and personalised video featuring one of the England players.”

A taster session was held at Stocksfield this week.