ONE of the most country's most prominent politicians stopped off in a Tyne Valley village - for a game of cricket.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was at the crease facing bowlers from Riding Mill Cricket Club during a friendly game.
The club's chairman, Peter Nitsch, explained how Mr Khan's visit came to be.
He said: "Sadiq is a long-term friend of one of our members - who doesn't want to be named!
"We host a friendly team called the Mallards who use our ground. It's a mixture of Riding Mill and other players as a friendly, midweek team.
"Sadiq was visiting his friend and because we were having a fund-raising weekend to try and improve the club, he asked 'why don't you come along for a couple of hours.
"He apparently once had trials at Surrey when he was 16, and he's an avid cricket fan - so when he was offered to have a go he donned the pads and took part."
Sadiq faced six overs from Riding Mill players and scored off each one, managing not to run out his batting partner - treasuer Steve Kent.
The club are fundraising in a bid to improve their facilities and hope to start a junior team in the future. It is also looking for more players to have a second Saturday team.
Steve said: "We're right between the big giants of Corbridge and Stocksfield, so we're the poor relation.
"However, over the last season and a bit we've raised our profile and we've now got a huge squad.
"We're just trying to develop the whole site and be a much more community based club and get the kids involved.
"The facilities need improving. We've got lots of big plans
The club has raised more than £3,500, with the club house in need of refurbishment and work on the ground includes an outdoor practice strip and an electronic scoreboard. Donations can be made at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/brian-watson.
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