Tewkesbury Town Colts Football Club have scored a funding goal after becoming the latest recipients of Persimmon Homes' Community Champions scheme.

The football team, which was founded in the 1970s, caters for around 500 local boys and girls in the town and now has an extra £3,000 to use to support participation.

The donation, courtesy of the Persimmon's Severn Valley business, will help the Colts in their quest to expand their capacity as the town grows, seeing their popularity rise.

The housebuilder is developing at Fiddington Fields near Dobbie's in Ashchurch, a few minutes' walk away from one of the Colts' playing fields in Pamington.

Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre, located at Beckford, near Tewkesbury, also secured recent funding from Persimmon Severn Valley that will help their work rescuing British wildlife in the area.

Persimmon Homes Severn Valley sales director Carly Spear said: "We're delighted that we have been able to help a fantastic local team like the Tewkesbury Colts, especially as they try to cater to a growing town where people want to live and raise their families.

"Persimmon believes in supporting organisations and good causes like the Colts in the areas in which we develop because we want our customers and generations of future residents to benefit from that good work.

"Hopefully, these funds will play a part in the Colts' journey to expansion because I know they will be a big draw for those who will want to move to our Fiddington Fields site just off the M5.

"Alongside building much-needed homes at our exciting new development in Fiddington, we are also determined to leave a positive lasting legacy in the local community, supporting organisations across all walks of life, and through our engagement with Ashchurch Rural Parish Council, we've been delighted to support Tewkesbury Colts."

James Heath, chairman of Tewkesbury Town Colts FC, added: "I'm very grateful to Persimmon for their help, as are all our players and coaches because this will make a huge difference in building our reserves as we seek to expand.

"Tewkesbury is a growing town but we cannot accommodate everybody who wants to play for us - so that means searching for a permanent home for our club including a clubhouse.

"We know the journey to that is long but these funds will really help us deliver for the young people in this area. Team sports are great for mental and physical health, learning to work with others, and breaking down boundaries and we want to ensure our work can reach all of Tewkesbury."