TWO Bury cricket clubs have expressed an interest in playing in a revived Cross Cup competition this season.

Elton and Walshaw are among 15 clubs who have been invited and shown willing to play for the trophy which was the oldest in Lancashire still being competed for up to 2015.

The Cross Cup was not played last year because the Bolton Association – which staged the competition since 1889 – had entered into a period of suspension after losing half its 18 clubs to the newly-formed Greater Manchester Cricket League.

A meeting of all the clubs will take place at Little Hulton Cricket Club on Wednesday, March 29 at which the final decision on rules and the draw for the first round are expected to take place.

The organisation of this year's competition is being led by Bolton Association stalwart and umpire Eric Hogg and the other clubs who have expressed an interest in playing are Elton and Walshaw's fellow former Association clubs Adlington, Astley and Tyldesley, Atherton, Blackrod, Darcy Lever, Daisy Hill, Eagley, Edgworth, Flixton, Golborne, Little Hulton, Roe Green and Spring View.

Bury, who won the Cross Cup in 2014 during their three-year stint in the Bolton Association, have not been invited to play.

Mr Hogg said: “The response from the 15 clubs I’ve spoken to and the umpires has been positive.

“It’s the oldest cup in Lancashire and it’s wrong that it should be stuck in a museum gathering dust.”

The first round of this year’s proposed revived competition is set to be played in the first half of the season with the next two rounds and the final taking place in the second half.

Meanwhile, Edenfield have had their application to join the Lancashire League rejected while Greenmount's former league, the Bolton League, this week advertised for new clubs. They are inviting applications to fill up to four places in an attempt to increase from 20 to 24 clubs.