A Cricket club which was hit for six when it was told to leave its home of more than 100 years has won its bid to stay.

Stackstead’s Cricket Club was threatened with closure three years ago after the owner of the ground, Geoffrey Fielding-Bell, made legal moves to increase rent payments.

But the club is now looking forward to breaking new boundaries after a rent payment settlement was reached between the board officials and the landlord.

Ron Ashworth, club president, said: “It’s good news for the club and we will hold a full board meeting in the near future to discuss it.

“It was the imminent court case which was to be held in Preston in September which forced both parties, us and Mr Geoffrey Fielding-Bell, to the negotiation table.

“After a series of meetings to discuss rent costs and the length of the lease we came to an agreement.

"As it stands, we have agreed to pay a slightly increased rate of rent and are guaranteed to be here for the next three years.”

The club has been playing at Waterbarn Recreation Ground for 104 years and in 1990 owners Waterbarn Baptist Church agreed that Stacksteads could exclusively use the ground for its league games.

But the church was sold and the new owners announced plans to build a community sports facility, featuring a new pavilion and to provide community facilities for cricket, five-a-side football, competition level bowls, archery, fencing, tennis and other sports, on the ground.

The Ribbledale League Second Division club launched a campaign to stop its closure which was backed by cricket clubs across Rossendale.

A petition was also collected and sent to the Prime Minister.

Mr Ashworth said: “Our thanks go to the residents and other clubs for a petition which was taken to the Prime Minister’s Office.

“We are keen to start a new relationship with the owner and work with him.”

Legal representatives for Mr Fielding-Bell declined to comment about the settlement.