A Somerset cricket club has been honoured with a national award for going above and beyond to raise the game and support communities and groups.

North Petherton Cricket Club won the Connecting Communities Award at the 2023 Cricket Collective Awards.

The awards honour and celebrate the hard work and dedication of cricket volunteers across England and Wales, with one winner revealed per day from December 1 to December 11.

County boards have been awarding their region’s winners across 11 different categories since the end of the summer, and from that group a panel of experts has chosen the national winners.

A spokesperson from North Petherton Cricket Club said: "We are humbled that our support for the Somerset Cricket Foundation Maqbul project has been nationally by the ECB’s Connecting Communities Award.

"All our welcome in our club."

A spokesperson from the England and Wales Cricket Board said: "North Petherton CC in Somerset have gone above and beyond to include people seeking refuge and asylum.

"The club has wholeheartedly supported the Together Fund “Maqbul” diverse communities project - it has encouraged social interaction and well-being for members of the communities, and introduced cricketing opportunities to those who have never played the game before."

Also amongst the awards was Somerset-based Super 1's coach Scarlett Hale.

She was Highly Commended in the Game Changer award category which is for a young volunteer making a difference in the game (for 17-25-year-olds).

The ECB spokesperson said: "In the two years that Scarlett Hale has been volunteering at Super 1’s in Somerset her impact has been immeasurable. Her enthusiasm, kindness and unmatched energy has allowed every player to come out of their shell and express themselves.