Counties enjoy crowd high

Attendence at The Oval was up 30% on last year

County cricket was given a boost with opening weekend attendances up by almost a quarter on last season.

Helped by unseasonably warm weather, the average gate for the first County Championship matches of 2003 was up 24% on last year, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced.

The figures will come as good news to county bosses who were forced to accept a £4m cut in central funding for the season because of fears over the financial climate.

All of the seven matches, beginning on Friday 18 April, showed an increase on the corresponding fixtures in 2002.

More than 2,500 spectators passed through the turnstiles on the first day at New Road, where Worcestershire took on Division Two promotion rivals Hampshire.

Newly-promoted Nottinghamshire reported their largest opening day crowd for more than 40 years - 3,000 spectators turning up to see day one of an upset win over Warwickshire.

The four-day total for Gloucestershire's narrow eight-run win over Somerset was higher than the total for all five Championship matches played at Bristol in 2002.

Despite a cold snap, Bristol still broke records

Essex more than doubled their attendance in comparison to the opening fixture at Chelmsford last year.

And numbers turning out at The Oval, where champions Surrey clung on for a draw against arch-rivals Lancashire, were up 30%.

Pre-paid memberships make up a large proportion of the numbers coming through the turnstiles, but catering figures rose to record highs at several venues.

And the increase in fair-weather supporters brought an increase in those applying for season-long passes.

Worcestershire reported membership sales up 14% on 2002, Notts recorded a 10% surge and Derbyshire said membership sales were "significantly up on previous seasons".