CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride has met with an Okehampton resident to learn about his campaign to improve funding for sports at grassroots level.

Mr Stride visited Parklands Leisure Centre on August 15 to meet with Dave Rickwood from Okehampton Otters Swimming Club. Mr Rickwood has started an online petition calling on the Government to change tax rules so that sports clubs can claim Gift Aid.

Currently it is not possible to claim Gift Aid on subscriptions made to grassroots sports — whereas a subscription to charity such as a scout association can have gift aid.

Mr Stride has agreed to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to clarify the situation and may then lobby for a change in the law.

Mr Stride said: 'Okehampton Otters are a great example of a local sports club providing a fun and healthy activity and that would benefit hugely from being on the same footing as other groups in being able to claim Gift Aid on subscriptions and donations.

'This is something I will certainly look into on behalf of the club and others in my constituency faced with the same issue.'

The petition will need at least 100,000 signatures to stand a chance of being debated in the Commons. It can be found online at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36239">http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36239