An archery club that has been on target for more than 70 years is now aiming to be the county's best place to fire arrows. 

Since 1952 Norfolk Bowmen has been helping archers hone in on their target and hopes to continue this with the help of a new indoor range. 

The Weston Longville-based archery club has been given permission to demolish existing storage buildings and construct a new indoor range at its premises on Rectory Road. 

The club is now on a mission to be the best.The club is now on a mission to be the best. (Image: Norfolk Bowmen) In the wooded area of the property are old buildings where the club, between Dereham and Norwich, intends to undergo the development. 

The proposal involves removing concrete pre-fabricated buildings and replacing them with a new one to accommodate an archery range, meeting room, storage and toilet facility. 

David Long, who manages the memberships for the club, said he feels "relieved" the application was given the go-ahead.

He said: "It's been a long journey to get all this done and now we can start looking to the next steps."

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Mr Long, who has been an archer for 50 years, said the new facility will allow members to practice all year round, which is currently a limitation during inclement weather. 

The facility will allow archers to shoot a distance of 30m indoors and, with the added advantage, Mr Long hopes the club will gain the reputation of the county's best.

He said: "Our plan is to be the best in Norfolk and if we have good facilities, then we'll have good members."

The buildings that currently exist, where the development will take place, are post-war concrete pre-fabricated structures that have become derelict and neglected.

The old buildings are post-war structures.The old buildings are post-war structures. (Image: Ingleton Wood) READ MORE: Fakenham Racecourse: members seek more value for membership

Mr Long said: "When the Weston Longville airfield was built, they had to rehome some of the farmers and that's what those buildings were used for." 

The next hurdle for the club is to raise the funds to get the range built, of which more details will be announced later.