WORCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club is celebrating after its plan to build two new spectator stands at the New Road ground won the support of Worcester City Council.

The £450,000 development proposals for the Diglis end of the ground received a setback in December when the planning committee sent the plans back to the drawing board.

Members were concerned that the stands and a new scoreboard would block the view of Worcester Cathedral.

Revised plans, in which the stands and scoreboard have been moved further west, were approved by councillors at a meeting of the planning committee last night,.

Councillor Geoff Williams said he was pleased that the club had negotiated with city planners to amend the proposals, which also include new bar and refreshments facilities, toilets and facilities for the disabled.

''The cricket club is one of these organisations that is special to the city,'' said Coun Williams.

''This was recognised when we looked at this last time, but we also had a duty to protect the views of the Cathedral, which is why we asked for the whole thing to be moved around."

Work is due to start at the ground next winter ready for the 2004 season.

After the meeting, Mark Tagg, from the club, said the next step was to make sure all the funding was in place for the project. £200,000 is to come from Sport England and the remainder from loans and club's own finances.

''We were disappointed last time, but we felt with the changes made and the hard work the club put in we had a scheme that everyone could get behind,'' he said.

''We have always known that we had a ground that is in one of the most beautiful settings in the country. Now we'll be able to build facilities to match that.''

n Opinion: P6