SIBLE Hedingham could be the first village in the Braintree district to have its own petanque court.

The court could be in place on the village recreation ground by the spring.

Gill Massey, a parish councillor, came up with the idea.

She said: “We have done a lot over the past few years for the young people in the village.

“We thought it would be nice to have something on the recreation ground to involve older people.

“It would be nice to get a Sible Hedingham petanque team together.”

The Halstead Local Committee will give the village a £1,500 grant to cover the cost of the course.

The parish council would also like to put in some benches nearby.

Jo Beavis, chairman of the parish council, said: “It could be the only one in the Braintree district.

“Some members thought some pubs might have them, but for recreation areas like ours, it’s new.”

petanque, commonly known as boule, is hugely popular in France.