IT has been a weekend of celebration in Worcester after Warriors defeated Saracens and secured Guinness Premiership survival.

As Saturday's crunch game ended with Worcester winning 22-7, fans chanted: "We are staying up".

Supporters packed pubs and clubs on Saturday night to celebrate the success, which means the Sixways-based club can look to the future in the top division.

Warriors chairman, Cecil Duckworth said it was a magnificent performance.

"The team, as I've said most of the year, are capable of some exceptionally good rugby," he said.

"Saracens are a good team and we made them look very ordinary."

And he is already looking ahead to next season.

"We have got some exceptionally talented academy players coming through and I think in the coming season we will be able to integrate them into the side and they will make a difference and will take us forward for the future," he said.

Graham Munn, chairman of the Warriors Supporters Club, said: "The team played as well as I've ever seen. They were really up for it and the rugby was superb.

"Saracens are a very good team, but we completely dominated them from the beginning. The atmosphere was out of this world."

John Phillips, 56, of Red Hill Lane, off London Road, Worcester, said: "It was just tremendous. As always, the 10,000 supporters that were there were absolutely magnificent. Fortress Sixways is back with a vengeance."

Mayor of Worcester, Ian Imray, said: "I'm absolutely delighted for the team and for the area.

"They do raise the profile of Worcester as they go around the country playing and I'm delighted about today's result."

Worcester needed to beat the Watford-based side to avoid facing relegation to National League One.

The win has sent Northampton tumbling down instead, despite Saturday's victory over London Irish.

After the game, jubilant fans jumped up and down and cheered at their club's success.

Chris Pomeroy, 53, of Milret Close, Worcester, said: "It was absolutely brilliant, the best game they have played all season. It was absolutely wonderful."

Thirty-year-old John Bailey, of Bromyard Road, St John's, Worcester, added: "It's absolutely fantastic.

"They have been cracking and have done what they have needed to do."

James Smith, 19, of Amberley Close, Blackpole, Worcester, said: "I'm over the moon. We just dominated them throughout the game. Saracens seemed weak."

Thirty-year-old Martin Smith, of Lower Broadheath, added: "It's about time Worcester played well.

"They put together a complete performance and continued for 80 minutes and it was well deserved.

"I hope they build on this next year."

Sharon Kilner, 32, of Redstone Lane, Stourport-on-Severn, said: "It was absolutely excellent. It was the best game of the season and I feel very proud. "We have come a long way in such as short time."