OFFICIALS at Whitton United today praised an initiative which has seen prisoners in Suffolk spruce up the club’s ground.

Prisoners from Hollesley Bay have been on work placements at the King George V Playing Fields as part of the project.

Two people worked at the club for six weeks earlier in the year and two more people have now been taken on.

Those who have worked at the club have been involved with a number of different tasks, including woodwork, and they have also painted the new hospitality suite.

Lucky Singh, the club’s facilities manager, said: “You know they have done wrong and obviously they are getting their punishment and paying their dues.

“But when they get the opportunity to put things right and give something back, it’s nice to see.”

The teams have worked five days a week and Mr Singh said he was pleased with their work.

He believes the project could prove to be a lifeline for smaller clubs in Suffolk who do not have the funds to do repair or renovation work.

He added: “We have got so much work to do at the club and we have always got projects starting.

“Some of these guys are tradesman and a lot of clubs can’t afford that so this gets things done.”