Cricket: Hampshire sell County Ground

HAMPSHIRE have sold their County Ground headquarters in Southampton to the building firm Berkeley Homes for pounds 5m.

The County Ground has been Hampshire's home since 1885 and they will use the money to help finance the building of their new ground at West End on the northern outskirts of the city. The total cost of relocating is pounds 16m, with over pounds 7m having already been received in a National Lottery grant.

Chief executive, Tony Baker, said: "The ground at Northlands Road has been an important part of Hampshire's history and when the time comes we will be sad to go."

Northlands Road will be developed into high quality housing after Hampshire have moved on by 2000.