White Coppice Cricket Club made history on Saturday when they capped their double promotion-winning season with an open-top bus parade through Chorley.

The Lancashire market town had never hosted an open-top bus parade before – and the day didn’t disappoint.

Motorists tooted their horns in support and shoppers waved enthusiastically as the bus made its way through the town centre, Whittle-le-Woods, Wheelton, Buckshaw Village and Clayton-le-Woods before finishing at the Lock & Quay.

One of those to wave was Craig Ellison, who said: “My wife and I spotted them going past the top of Brookwood Way, gave them a beep and they all started cheering. Gave me a good laugh.”

The club, which plays in the Palace Shield Cricket Competition, came up with the idea for the bus parade after reflecting on how far it had come since nearly folding in 2017, when it had only seven players for one match and went 658 days without a win.

The 1st XI secured the club’s first promotion in 15 years in August by finishing runners-up in Division Five, while the 2nd XI went one better in September by winning Division Eight on a dramatic final day of the season.

However, the parade looked like it wouldn’t happen at all when the vintage bus the club thought they had secured fell through at the 11th hour.

Stanton’s of Stoke offered the players the use of an alternative open-top bus that Northampton Saints had used earlier this year after being crowned Gallagher Premiership champions – but the club faced a £950 shortfall.

It was at this point that Stephen Turner, founder and chairman of Chorley-based Group55, heard of their plight and stepped in to cover the shortfall.

As a thank you, the parade took a slight detour to stop for a photo outside the premises of the award-winning manufacturer.

The parade was waved off by Chorley Mayor Cllr Debra Platt from Chorley Town Hall after she had hosted an official reception for a group of players.

White Coppice 1st XI captain Jake Smalley said: “It was an experience all the lads on the bus will never forget.

“On one level it was a celebration of achieving two promotions but on a deeper level it was a recognition of where the club has come from and where it’s going. Hopefully, our story can inspire others.

“It was apt for a bunch of cricketers that despite a good weather forecast it started to rain towards the end of the parade but nothing to dampen the spirits of White Coppice Cricket Club!”