WORCESTERSHIRE have spent £10,000 in a bid to get their New Road ground ready for their opening home County Championship match against Sussex next week.

Contractors Hewitt Sports Turf, have been re-turfing an area of the outfield which had been heavily affected by silt from the winter flooding.

The deep turfing technique is used by many Premiership football clubs and the new National Stadium at Cardiff, and allows the re-tufted area to be played on immediately.

Worcestershire secretary Mike Vockins said: "It has been a difficult year because of the floods and their aftermath but we are all working hard to be ready for our first day here. This re-turfing helps us overcome the main remaining ground problems we have."