STOURPORT Swifts and Bewdley Town have underlined the importance of having good neighbours -- by agreeing to ground share.

Bewdley will be tenants at Swifts' Walshes Meadow home for the coming season after shaking hands on a deal with their higher-league hosts.

Newly-promoted Bewdley need access to floodlight facilities to complete their elevation to the West Midlands League premier division.

They are applying for planning permission and raising money for floodlights and a covered stand for 100 spectators to meet the league's criteria for the season after next.

Until then Swifts, who play in Division One West of the Southern Football League, have come to their local rivals' aid by renting out their ground to them for alternate weeks during the 2005-06 campaign.

Bewdley chairman Geoff Edwards said: "We're grateful to Swifts for helping us out while we raise money for improvements at our own ground and seek planning permission.

"This ground share means that there will be a good standard of grass-roots football at Stourport every Saturday and many midweek games.

Stourport and Bewdley will celebrate the ground share with a friendly at Walshes Meadow on Saturday, August 6 (3pm kick-off).

Stourport chairman Chris Reynolds said: "We would like to welcome Bewdley and hopefully the agreement will benefit both clubs."

Swifts host Redditch in a friendly tonight (7.45pm) and entertain Stourbridge on Saturday at 3pm.

Their league campaign kicks off away at Marlow on Saturday August 13with their first home match against Wille-nhall at 7.45pm on Tuesday August 16.

Bewdley's season starts at Tividale on Saturday August 20. They host their first league match at Walshes Meadow against Kington Town on Wednesday August 24.