MALMESBURY'S rugby and cricket clubs are looking to raise thousands of pounds to upgrade their facilities.

The rugby club plays alongside the cricket club's ground in The Worthys, and rents its pitch from farmer Michael Weaver.

The club wants to introduce mini-rugby for youngsters from the start of next season but has been told the pitch is unsuitable and requires £33,500 to resurface it and provide drainage.

The cricket club also rents its four and a half acre site from Mr Weaver and needs to improve or replace its pavilion, which has stood since the 1940s and needs constant repairs.

Committee member Michael Brind said the work is likely to cost up to £250,000 and the club will apply for a National Lottery grant.

Both clubs intend to start fundraising over coming months.

Adam Twidell, 29, plays in the scrum for the rugby club and is the management committee's pitch secretary.

He said the club was reformed in 1995 and has a men's team that attracts crowds of 20 each Saturday, but plays only in friendlies and wants to progress to the Wiltshire and Dorset Rugby League.

"We also want to develop mini-rugby in Malmesbury because currently children have to go to Chippenham or Circencester to play," said Mr Twidell, a pilot at RAF Lyneham.

"Our pitch is a cow field during the summer, so we have been told with health and safety regulations there is no way kids would be allowed to play on it."

Mr Twidell said The National Playing Fields Association has surveyed the site and said the pitch needs to be levelled, drainage improved and re-surfacing work done.

On Tuesday Mr Twidell addressed Malmesbury Town Council, who supported the bid for the site.

"Now we are going to start fundraising because it is absolutely vital that we do this as a way of introducing rugby to boys and girls in Malmesbury," said Mr Twidell.

He said if all goes well bulldozers could move on to the site in April and he hopes mini-rugby could be set up by the beginning of next season.

The first fundraising event is called the Daisy Dolloper and Mr Twidell said the rugby club would be selling tickets at £1 a time in the Market Cross tomorrow, as part of late-night shopping.

"The pitch measures 100m by 650m and we want to sell one square metre for £1," said Mr Twidell.

"We are going to release a cow on to the field and wherever it dumps a dollop, that person wins £1,000."

The rugby club is also planning a Malmesbury fun run next year. It has applied to North Wiltshire District Council for funding and will be writing to The Foundation of Sports and Arts.

At Tuesday's planning meeting John Bowen, Mayor of Malmesbury, said: "Playing fields are something the whole town has a need for," adding that he would be contacting North Wiltshire MP James Gray for support.

Mr Brind, who lives in Oaksey, said the cricket club had just renewed planning approval to redevelop its pavilion, which is currently housed in three separate buildings, with changing rooms, a social club and a tearoom.

The cricket club wants to move everything into one building, constructing it behind the current facilities so it can stay open during the building work.

The club has two men's teams who play in the West of England Premier League.

It has a third 11 who play in the Cirencester and District Saturday League, as well as an under 13 and under 15 teams.

It also has nets for teams to train all year round.

"Ideally we want to involve other sports, such as bowls, football and tennis to create a centre for sports, as part of the Lottery application," said Mr Brind.