A historic cricket club which was ravaged by fire last year is rising from the ashes with £150,000 plans for new practice facilities and a new building.

Enfield Cricket Club has submitted an application to Hyndburn council to build a three-bay practice facility on the club’s car park in Dill Hall Lane, Church.

The new practice pitches will include protective nets and security fencing.

Four months ago, a fire caused by an electrical fault, tore through the club’s 151-year-old tearoom, causing thousands of pounds of damage.

The council has already approved plans to demolish the damaged building and construct a new one in its place. Club chairman Geoff Dixon said the new facilities were about helping the club move forward following a difficult few months.

He said: "It’s an exciting time to be involved with the club because it is growing and expanding.

"We are all looking to the future and the next summer of play." The new building will be similar in size and scale to the damaged unit, and will also include a modernised kitchen, new junior changing facilities, a groundsman’s office and improved disabled access.

The estimated cost of the new building is £150,000, which will likely be funded by insurance payouts from the fire.

Geoff said the club was hopeful the new building would be completed by the early stages of next season but did not know an exact date when works would begin. He added: "We’ve got planning permission for the new building which is big step forward. We want to get the tearoom sorted as soon as possible."

The council approved the new building application on Wednesday, January 11. The application for the pitches will be considered by the council’s planning committee at a later date.