LEIGH Cricket Club plan to celebrate their 150th anniversary in style with a series of gala events planned for this year.

The Beech Walk cricket, tennis and bowling outfit kick off their festivities with a celebration dance on April 3 to mark the founding of the club in 1854.

The main event will take place on the weekend of June 18-20, when they will hold a sportsman's dinner, a summer ball and dinner dance, and a garden party.

In late August they will have a Victorian weekend with people playing cricket, tennis and bowls in period dress. In late October they will have a Halloween dance, followed on November 5 by a 150th celebration firework display and December 19 by a carol and brass band concert.

Club president Ray Vaughan, who helped organise the festivities, said: "It promises to be a very exciting year for the club. We are very much a community club, with a strong junior section and a good coaching staff. The big weekend will be in June when we have over 300 people for the dinner dance. Some of the younger players have never been to a dinner dance before so we thought it would be a good experience for them."

The club plan to produce a 40 page 150th anniversary celebration brochure and display cups, trophies, photographs and other memorabilia.

Mr Vaughan wants past players of cricket, tennis and bowls to contact the club and join in with the festivities. And he wants people who can donate any past artefacts related to the club to also contact them.

For more details ontact the club on 01942 671818 or Mr Vaughan on 01942 679432.