A CLUB in Bungay is celebrating after receiving a lottery grant that will help disabled anglers return to their hobby.

Bungay Cherry Tree Angling club has received nearly �10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme.

And this week club members have spoken of their delight at the grant, which they described as a “big boost” to the area.

The club has been awarded �9,613 to help work on their three-acre base, which is near Earsham.

It will specifically be used to create 25 new wooden stands, featuring six priority banks for ambulant disabled anglers. Further money will be spent on creating a tuition shelter for younger members and leaflets.

The club predominantly fishes along seven miles of river, however they also use Bungay common pond, while their lake at their base is filled with bream, roach and rudd.

David Gladwell, secretary and life vice president, said: “With many older anglers suffering from the effects of heart problems and strokes; small diabetes amputations and a general inability to climb up and down sloping banks the newly scaped venue will cater for a wide range of anglers.”

The club, which is celebrating its 65th year, has nearly 200 members and Mr Gladwell and club fisheries officer Geoff Kirman said that they hoped this development will help boost these numbers even further.

It is the latest in a series of grants for the angling club, which had seen its numbers decline until recently.

It was previously based in Ditchingham, but the move to the Earsham lay-by lake meant new work was required to accommodate members and protect their fish stock.

A �1,000 Environment Agency Grant was used to help put up otter fencing by the lake, but as the original estimate for the project was nearly �7,000 the club had to pull together.

This meant that 260 yards of trenches were initially dug by members of the club themselves.

Mr Gladwell said: “Almost 20pc of the membership, from 14-year-olds to 75-year-olds dug by hand, sometimes before and after work.”

The final 400 yards needed a digger and the club has been greatly assisted by Bungay contractor Ian Moore.

Mr Gladwell said: “He has been really fantastic and helped us out a whole heap.

“He has put something in for the club and he wasn’t even a member, but he is now going to join.”

This project couple with rising membership numbers helped to lay the foundations for the lottery application.

In all 49 voluntary organisations and charities across the East of England were awarded grants from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme.

It is hoped Bungay Cherry Tree Angling club’s work will be completed by June 1.

For further details on the club visit www.bungaycherrytree.com