Willing hands made light work as Halstead Cricket Club’s pre-season preparations reached the maintenance stages.

With players having started training in late February, it was the Star Stile facilities’ turn to get ready for the coming season last weekend.

Volunteers were at the ground on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, completing vital maintenance as part of NatWest’s nationwide Cricket Force initiative.

Linking with building merchants Jewson, clubs across the country hosted working parties to help with the upkeep of club facilities.

In Halstead’s case, it was painting the dressing rooms, jet washing the sight screens and paving and the beginning of pitch preparations.

As the weather closed in on Sunday some jobs were still to be completed, but the long Easter weekend will present a perfect opportunity to complete these.

The first team start their season with a friendly match against Chelmsford on April 12 (1pm start).

They then begin life back in division one of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship with a home game against Worlington on April 18.