Buckley Cricket Club is preparing to bid for Cricket Wales funding for new changing rooms at its pavilion, which the club says was a First World War barracks.

Fflint Wrecsam MS Ken Skates, the Welsh Labour leader, has written a letter supporting the application after visiting the club to meet chairman Mark McManus.

The club has planning permission to build the changing rooms at the back of its existing clubhouse.

Mr McManus said: “One of the challenges we face is that our historic clubhouse was originally a First World War Canadian Army barracks building.

“It is a facility with enormous character and one that we are very proud of, but inevitably a building of this age was never designed to meet the requirements of a modern, inclusive sports club.”

The new changing rooms would be built to England and Wales Cricket Board guidelines.

Mr McManus said: “This will enable us to address safeguarding issues created by the existing layout while providing facilities that are considerably more inclusive and accessible.”

Moving the changing rooms would also free up space inside the pavilion for a dedicated meeting and community room that local organisations could use.

The clubhouse is already used by community groups for meetings, celebrations and fundraising events.

Alongside its senior cricket, the club runs a junior section and is developing opportunities for women and girls to play.

Mr Skates said: “As a volunteer-run community sports club, delivering a project of this scale is simply beyond its financial means without external support.

“Despite being one of the largest towns in North Wales, Buckley and its people have long felt overlooked and believed that facilities and funding are often diverted to neighbouring towns.

“The ambitious vision put forward by the club presents an opportunity for that perception to be changed.”