NEW green keeping machinery at Maldon Bowling Club has meant the facility has been able to promote the sport to the wider community - including pupils from Plume Academy.

Maldon MP John Whittingdale, who attended the re-opening of Maldon Bowling Club after lockdown, tried his hand at bowls on an immaculate green at the Club at Park Drive in Maldon.

Last year, John supported the club's application to the SUEZ Landfill Community welfare fund for a grant towards the cost of the new machinery to maintain the bowling green.

As a result, the club was awarded £8,800 for new equipment, freeing up funds usually spent on maintenance to promote bowls in the wider community.

John said: "It is fantastic that outdoor recreational sport is now possible again and I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in my first match at Maldon Bowling Club. It was also wonderful to play on such a perfectly manicured green, thanks to the efforts of Mark Piper and the new equipment funded by SUEZ."