JUST days after a weekend of celebrations at Sixways, the air has turned sour for some supporters angry about rising ticket prices after they had been promised a price freeze.

About 200 loyal Worcester Warriors fans have been hit after work to improve health and safety in the East Stand.

Debenture and season ticket holders who have seats in the two central blocks in rows T to Z of the stand are being asked to pay an extra £95 for their tickets in return for better access to bars, toilets and entry points.

Generally, debenture holders pay for the right to have first refusal on a particular seat for a set period.

At Worcester, all other season tickets around the ground have stayed at the same price.

Richard Bradley, a marketing manager who has been a season ticket holder at Sixways for seven years, said: "I fully appreciate the club needs extra reveune, especially now we are staying in the Guinness Premiership. But it's not an issue about money for me. It's just the way in which it was done."

Before Saturday's stirring victory over Saracens, the affected supporters received notification asking them to take advantage of a "price freeze" and renew their tickets for next season.

However, Mr Bradley, who has sat in the East Stand for three years, said he would have to pay £380 to renew his ticket for next season. He paid £285 last year.

"That's not a price freeze, is it? Everybody is pretty miffed about it," he said, adding that he was less than impressed with a note saying there was "demand" for the seats.

He said: "It seems like a case of pay up or get out of your seat and I took exception to that. The club asks us to be loyal and they don't show us any loyalty."

Chris Goodrich, who also sits in the East Stand, said he did not think the price rise was justified and did not like the way the club had been so secretive about it.

"It's been done in a very underhand way," said Mr Goodrich, aged 54, of St Peter's, Worcester. "It's over ambitious marketing of an amateur nature which is taking the loyal fans for granted."

Graham Munn, the chairman of Worcester Warriors Supporters Club, said: "We have not had a meeting with the club to discuss it, but we are aware one or two have complained so we will make representations to the club to try and sort something out."

A club spokesman would not explain the policy change but apologised to fans affected.