STUDENTS at a secondary school in Potters Bar have been given a cash boost toward a new artificial cricket pitch.

Mount Grace School, in Church Road, currently has to play all its matches away as its facilities are more than 30 years old and no longer suitable.

Pupils and staff are looking to raise £9500 to install an English Cricket Board accredited playing area.

County Councillor John Usher (Conservative, Potters Bar West and Shenley) has added £750 from his locality budget to £3000 already secured by the school, from sports charity Lord's Taverners.

Cllr Usher said: ““I am really pleased to be able to help out with this project and I hope pupils will enjoy playing on the new pitch.

“It is important for all young people to have access to good sports facilities and I am sure that the new pitch will provide just that.”

Head of PE at Mount Grace School, Darren Roberts, said there was still a long way to go but thanked the Hertfordshire county councillor for his “fantastic” contribution.

Despite the run-down cricket facilities, pupils at the Potters Bar school have managed to achieve great success in the sport, winning two district championships last year.

Mr Roberts said: “A new pitch will give us the opportunity to play more games at home, which will improve the standard of cricket considerably.”

The school is hoping to build the facility, which will have shared use with the wider community, next summer.