A ROWING club is celebrating after a supermarket stuck its oar in and helped them to buy new equipment.

Warrington Rowing Club, based on Howley Lane, now has new blades to help its team power itself to the top spot in the country thanks to Sainsbury's supermarket on Church Street.

The store donated £500 to the group, and the money has gone to buy sculling blades, which are on the tips of the oars, because the growing number of people, particularly youngsters, are taking up the sport.

Graeme Atherton, club captain said: "We are extremely grateful for the support from Sainsbury's to buy new equipment. Our current crop of junior rowers will benefit greatly from this investment, which also enables Warrington to compete at national level against the top clubs."

The money was raised through a scheme by the store that encourages customers to recycle plastic shopping bags.

And future rowing stars in the making got the chance to try out their gift from Sainsbury's at the club's Head of the Mersey event, which took place last Saturday. And the rowers have taken to the blades like, well, ducks to water.

Sonja Owen, Sainsbury's store manager, said: "When we heard about the need for new equipment at the rapidly growing Warrington Rowing Club we were very happy to nominate them for a grant."