HIMBLETON Cricket Club is hoping 2004 will bring success - and a new-look pavilion.

The village club would like nothing more than to see its £70,000 redevelopment plan begin at the end of the new cricket season after two years of fund raising.

But the September start date for building work is funding dependent and could be under threat because the club's lottery bid has got bogged down.

Two summer balls, raffles and open days have brought in £20,000 and a further £10,000 has been promised by Wychavon District Council if the club agrees to spend the full £70,000.

A lottery application was submitted last March but officials are still waiting for the proposals to be considered.

The Neight Hill club celebrated its centenary in 2002 when a centenary development programme was put into action to redevelop the 1960s pavilion and buy the freehold of the ground, which they lease from the Worcester Diocese.

Club members Geoff Peters and Drew Crawford have been spearheading the fund-raising committee ever since to help bring facilities into the 21st century.

Mr Peters said it was by far the biggest thing the club had ever done with the exception of moving to the present ground more than 40 years ago.

He said the club is aiming to increase its membership and added: "We are also trying to reach out to other parts of the community and get a girls' team going.

"We also want to be able to host some county junior games. We have got four youngsters in the county youth squads. This adds to cricket in the area."