ROPLEY Cricket Club marked the end of a successful eight-week junior training initiative with a special All Stars Cricket Night.

The starry night was attended by the 60 children, aged five to eight, who have taken part in the regular Thursday sessions.

Part of a national initiative introduced by the English Cricket Board to encourage children into cricket, coach Sarah Harry said the sessions were “all about fun” with boys and girls from Ropley and the surrounding villages taking part in cricket-based games and activities.

And on Thursday they each received a certificate and medal for their efforts.

The hope now is that these children will join Ropley Cricket Club, which has teams ranging from under-nines to men, ladies and girls.

According to Mrs Harry, the children paid a subscription to attend the sessions for which they received kit and coaching, with a small amount going to the ECB. Figures show that the initiative has brought more than 50,000 children into cricket this year - 2,000 of them in Hampshire.

In the picture, Mrs Harry is joined by the young cricketers as well as fellow coaches Andrew Morris and Andrea Adlam, some parent volunteer helpers, and the All Stars mascot Twinkle.