COMPTON and Chandler’s Ford cricket club’s annual cricket camp drew to a close last week.

Organiser and chief coach, Bill Brown, has been a member of the club – in its different forms – for the past 20 years and said the camp has more than one benefit.

“We have done this for about five years and word-of-mouth gets out that we’re there at the start of the school holidays, parents get their kids over to us – and it’s been a good babysitting service for the mums!” he said.

The club is the result of a merger between Compton & Shawford Cricket Club and Chandler’s Ford cricket club.

Winchester and Chandler’s ford MP, Steve Brine, stopped by to show his support.

He said: “This is a great little cricket club and it makes every sense to bring Compton and Chandler's Ford together in this way. I saw some promising cricketers when I visited so let's hope there's a future England star in our midst.”

But Mr Brine won’t be expecting a call from the England selectors anytime soon.

Mike Richardson, club president, said: “He fitted in very well and he bowled and he batted – but he’s not the best. He’s a golfer, he said, and he got some stick from the lads!”

Four coaches were on hand to help the youngsters with their skills and the sessions ran from Monday (July 29) to Friday (August 2).

“Three of the coaches came up through the system from the colts and that’s very gratifying indeed,” Mr Richardson said.