FORMER England captain Mike Gatting is urging people to lend a hand at their local cricket club – and says he loved every minute of his time at Heathcoat in 2013.

The 14th annual NatWest CricketForce from March 27-29 this year promises to be another blockbuster event with more than 2,000 clubs registered to take part.

Thousands of club members and volunteers will clean, tidy, repair and revitalise clubhouses and cricket grounds ahead of the new season.

Gatting rolled his sleeves up at Heathcoat Cricket Club in 2013 and the ECB managing director of cricket partnerships says he hopes Mid Devon clubs get stuck in again this time around.

He said: “There were so many clubs that stuck out to me last year and so much fantastic work has been done over the years.

“The biggest thing that gives me pleasure from helping out is hearing from the hundreds of clubs involved. We get loads of reports as the summer goes on that the clubs have a new lease of life – and new sponsors, volunteers, members and the players are happier as well – and that was certainly the case for Heathcoat.

“We were building a new pavilion when I helped out at Heathcoat. If I was interested in coaching a club or watching kids play then this has to be one of the prettiest grounds I’ve ever sat on.

“The pavilion was absolutely stunning. I’d never seen anything like that, especially inside with the wooden beams and the log fire. The scenery as you looked out the window was fantastic. It’s one of the prettiest grounds I have ever been on and the clubhouse just blended into the whole thing.

“I hope we’re helping the communities as well as the clubs. Kids want to go to clubs and have fun with their mates in a safe area.”

NatWest CricketForce is an ECB project that helps cricket clubs renovate and improve their facilities before each season with the help of members and their wider communities. To find out more visit ecb.co.uk/nwcf