Merstham Cricket Club continue to go from strength to strength as the club launches taster sessions to get girls into cricket.

The sessions, which take place on Wednesday evening, are designed for all girls between nine and 14 years of age and cater for those with some experience through to complete beginners.

A special session for younger girls (5-8 years) takes place with the boys training on Friday nights.

Dan Feist, the club's first team captain, said the club was taking the development of women's cricket very seriously.

He said: "The aim is to eventually have a women's team playing from the club although we are still at the beginning with this.

"We've had quite a lot of interest from girl players and a lot of players have enjoyed playing the game when we have gone into local schools.

"It is a fun session and we welcome all girls of all abilities to come down and give it a go."

The girls cricket compliments an already flourishing youth section for boys, with the club already running sides for ages between nine and 17.

Junior co-ordinator Mike Griffin said despite the club expanding it managed to maintain a village feel.

He said: "The focus has been on building team spirit and pushing personal ability to a higher level, maintaining the usual Merstham team spirit.

"We have maintained our links with local schools going out to many in and out of school time and have thus created a huge pool of players that come down to the club on our Friday nets.

"We are also building a development squad of young members who are too old for or above the standard of the East Surrey League."

It is hoped the youth system will feed players into the club's four adult Saturday sides, with three teams playing league cricket and one friendly side.

Already this season a number of colts have managed to represent Merstham's third XI who have won all of their games so far and sit top of the Fullers third XI League.

Feist said: "The club is really growing at the moment and it is for the whole community. We have a lot of local players at the club and our coaches go into 10 schools free of charge to get people playing cricket.

"Moving the colts training to Friday nights was fantastic as numbers have gone right up and we've seen a number of parents who haven't played for years bring their children down and start themselves again.

"I'm sure we'll just get stronger and stronger, we' re not about being the best team on the pitch but are proud to be made up of local people enjoying the game."

For more information about the girls' sessions email danfeist@gatton-park.org.uk or for general information on the club visit www.mersthamcc.co.uk.