WORCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club today snapped up 22-year-old batsman Stephen Peters from Essex.

He is the County's third close-season capture following the arrival at New Road of Ben Smith from Leicestershire and Gareth Batty from Surrey.

Peters, who is spending the winter in New Zealand, has joined Worcestershire on a three-year contract.

The County's Director of Cricket Tom Moody was delighted at a further boost to his squad for next season.

He said: "Stephen is our third signing in quick succession and we look forward to him adding depth to our middle order batting.

"Like Gareth Batty he is young and ambitious and plays his cricket in a positive manner. We are all looking forward to the new season ahead."

Peters played for the England Under 19 team which won the World Youth Cup final in 1997-8 and was voted man-of-the-match for his 107 in the final played in South Africa.

He said: "I have played regular first eleven cricket with Essex for a number of years but feel the challenge of a new county is what I need at this stage of my career.

"I decided midway through 2001 to think about a change knowing my contract at Essex would run out at the end of the season.

"They offered me a new contract but I was so impressed with what Tom Moody is building at New Road the move was a relatively easy decision to make.

"It is quite clear Worcestershire are putting together a strong squad and I want to play with an ambitious team."

Right-hander Peters, who celebrates his 23rd birthday on December 10, featured in 15 first-class matches for Essex last season, scoring 508 runs at an average of 22.08. His highest score was 56 not out.

Born in Harold Wood in Essex, he has played a total of 62 first-class matches notching 2,245 runs at an average of 25.80.

His current highest first-class score is 110 against Cambridge University in 1996 - the year he made his debut for Essex.

In the limited-over arena he has played in 75 matches, scoring 1,162 runs at an average of 18.74.

Worcestershire's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy third round tie against Cornwall next season will be played at St Austell.

The tie will be played on Wednesday, May 29.