The doors of the new Pewsey Vale Bowls Club officially opened on Friday when Secretary of Wiltshire Bowls Sue Ochyra did the honours.

Before work started on the project in January, the clubhouse, which is available to non-members, was subsiding.

Members have been bowled over by the new facilities which include new changing rooms, bigger toilets and a disabled entrance and toilet.

Project manager Caroline Sprott said: “We think it’s absolutely wonderful. We’ve had a lot of clubs which have come here and been very happy with the changing facilities and larger toilets.”

She said there had been a hitch at first when the builders organised by Sport England could not do the job in the time alloted.

“So we requested for Sport England to allow us to use local builders which they agreed, so we used a local architect Kennet Design and builder BLS.

“Although work started a few months behind schedule, we managed to get it all finished by the start of the season on May 19.”

The project was funded by a £50,000 grant from the National Lottery as part of Sport England’s Olympic and Paralympic legacy programme.

On Friday the club was presented with a plaque from Bowls England and Sport England in a celebration attended by Claire Perry MP, members of the Pewsey Parish Council and Pewsey Area Board and supporters.

Pewsey Belles and the Pewsey Male Choir entertained.

By renovating the clubhouse the club hopes to attract more members, particularly younger ones. To this end the club is teaming up with Shak, Pewsey’s youth club, and schools during the carnival to encourage people to try the sport.

The club was one of 300 projects across England to receive investment from the fourth round of the Inspired Facilities fund.

To register interest in becoming a member email caroline.

sprott@btinternet.com