WINNINGTON Park hope players can spend more time honing their skills after members gave their support for a proposal to install floodlights at Burrows Hill.

The Northwich club set an initial target last week to raise £5,500 to help cover the cost of additional lighting so that more of their teams can train during the evening.

It has been reached already, and will be matched by a contribution from Sport England for the same amount.

"The response has been brilliant," said chairman Paul Dean.

"But we don't want to stop there; the more we can raise the sooner we can push the button to start work."

Park were invited to use Crowdfunder - a method of raising money online that encourages friends and supporters to pledge what they can afford - to pay a share of the estimated £48,000 bill for the project.

Dean told the Guardian that Sport England has already agreed a £25,000 grant and a loan from the RFU - the game's governing body - as well as funds already put to one side by the club, will account for the rest.

Winnington want to have the work done early next year.

Winnington Park's members have pledged their support for a proposal to install new floodlights, and improve existing ones, at the club's Burrows Hill home

Dean said: "This is part of an ongoing investment in our facilities to make Winnington Park an attractive place to play rugby.

"Everything that we raise, we use for projects like this one.

"It's something we hope can benefit everybody."

At the moment the club's senior teams - men and women - practice during the evening in midweek while Winnington's mini and junior players use the pitches on a Sunday.

With additional floodlights, along with improvements to the existing ones at Burrows Hill, there will be an opportunity for children to train more often.

"We have 650 kids in our mini and junior section and it will be great to have the flexibility to offer them additional time on the field," said Dean.

"That can only assist their development, which is what we're all about.

"And if we make better use of the whole site it will allow us to keep the first-team playing surface in the best possible condition."

For further details about Winnington Park's floodlights appeal, or to make a contribution, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/wprc-floodlights