A GROUP of Somerset cricketers and the Prime Minister's father were among the guests of honour at an event to name a village cricket ground near Taunton.

The field at Stoke St Mary has been named after well-known auctioneer and former Somerset County Cricket Club chairman Charles Clark.

The opening ceremony was conducted by former Somerset captain and current England batting coach Marcus Trescothick together with Mr Clark's widow, Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, and the couple's three children, Verity, Tory and James.

County cricketers who attended were Tom Banton, Ollie Sales, Lewis Gregory and Roelof van de Merwe, as well as former Somerset player Nigel Popplewell.

Stanley Johnson, father of PM Boris Johnson, also enjoyed the event, while Somerset cricket commentator Anthony Gibson gave a ball-by-ball account of a mini-tournament hosted by Stoke St Mary Cricket Club on the picturesque ground in the heart of the village.

The Clark team won the trophy, which was lifted by captain James Clark,

Funds were raised for the village and for the new Somerset Cricket Foundation charity, which is working to engage people in cricket across the county, with a special focus on deprived and disadvantaged areas, diversity, equality and getting people to enjoy the benefits of the great outdoors through cricket.