WORCESTERSHIRE batsman Tom Fell, the County's leading run-scorer in the LV = County Championship this season, has become the fifth player since the beginning of August to sign a new contract at New Road.

The 21-year-old, who has topped the 800 run mark in the Championship, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal up until the end of the 2018 campaign.

Fell had one year remaining of his current contract but has joined Joe Clarke, Ed Barnard and Joe Leach (three years) and Ross Whiteley (four years) in committing his long term future to Worcestershire.

Hillingdon-born Fell broke into the first team during the 2013 season and rain denied him a maiden century against Kent when he was unbeaten on 94.

He quickly made up for lost time with back to back centuries last summer against Leicestershire and Glamorgan and was a regular member of the promotion winning side in the LV = CC in addition to finishing top run-scorer in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Fell made a superb start to 2015 with 114 against County Champions Yorkshire at New Road and then scored a career best 143 against Middlesex at Uxbridge and has shown the greater degree of consistency that he was looking for this season.

Fell said: "I think it's great that so many young guys have signed new contracts and good for the future of the club and I think everyone is really excited at the moment.

"I was always going to sign to be honest but it helps knowing that so many people you are close with, have played with for a few years and are good cricketers, are going to be here as well.

"If we can keep these guys together for the next few years, which obviously we will with signing these contracts, it is great for the future of the club.

"Backing these guys to do the job for the club for the next few years and trying to put us in a good position is excellent.

"It is an exciting time having such a good group of young players so hopefully we can take the club forward.”

Fell is determined to keep improving his own game.

He said: "It is good to sign the contract but you still want to be pushing yourself. There is no time to relax and say 'you've done it.' You need to keep on improving and just keep getting better every year."

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes believes Fell may challenge for an England Lions spot if he continues to progress in the right direction.

He said: "I am delighted Tom has signed a three year contract. If you look back to the very first match of the season and the century he scored against Yorkshire, he impressed the Yorkshire team in the manner of his century.

"They were champions last year and going well again this year so to do well against a good attack is testament to his qualities.

"I know he's got two centuries this year but he would like another one or two in his last two games just to finish off a good year.

"He is developing well, he is 21-22 years of age, a player who if he can keep progressing may well get himself at some stage on the next rung of the ladder which is England Lions cricket and that is something that I know he wants to do."