CAMPAIGNERS working to build a new public pavilion in a Winchester park are set to launch a crowdfunding scheme this month.

The Pavilion Project wants to show public support for the new building on North Walls recreation ground.

It aims to raise £5,000 to show to potential funders the scale of public backing.

Mike Caldwell, told the Town Forum that around £366,000 had been raised once pledges had been gift-aided, about 60 per cent of the target.

In the last 12 months some £65,000 had been raised.

But backing from the English Cricket Board and Hampshire Cricket Board was unlikely as it would need a league club to be based there.

Mr Caldwell said that would reduce the use of the pavilion by some 20 teams and was against the public ethos of the campaign that the pavilion would be as widely accessible as possible.

The planned completion date is still early summer 2019.