A TOP Government figure has paid a visit to the heart of Hampshire Cricket.

Sajid Javid, minister for culture and sport, visited the Ageas Bowl cricket ground today and took a tour of the facilities and saw the cricket club's charity arm, Hampshire Cricket in the Community, in action.

He was shown around the West End venue by chairman Rod Bransgrove and commercial director Stuart Robertson, accompanied by Eastleigh Tory parliamentary candidate Mims Davies.

Mr Javid also got to see the indoor netting facilities and the Poseidon Boxing Club.

He praised the club's involvement in the wider community and the link with an amateur boxing club was not something he had seen before.

"From what I have seen already the facilities are great and the investment in the local community and use of these facilities is very impressive."

He said he was a cricket fan himself and that he thought young people being able to see major matches played locally could inspire them and said if re-elected the Tories would continue to invest in grass-roots sport.

During his visit the minister also praised the Government's superfast broadband plan which has helped thousands of Hampshire residents already.

He said: “Today there are two million more UK homes and businesses with access to superfast broadband than there were two years ago as a result of this ambitious project.

“This is a tremendous result that is already making a huge difference to millions of people. We want everyone in the UK to be able to enjoy the benefits of superfast broadband, that's why we've begun work on reaching the last five per cent of communities not covered by existing plans.”

This is the second time that Mr Javid has been to the Eastleigh borough in the last few months, having attended Barton Peveril College in the town late last year and follows a visit to Bursledon by the Prime Minister David Cameron last month.

Mr Javid that Eastleigh was a "hugely important" seat to the Tories and praised Mrs Davies' commitment.