WORCESTER Warriors have announced plans for an £8m extension of their Sixways ground.

The scheme would see the existing east stand extended to seat 6,000 fans and would put the ground among the best rugby club facilities in Europe.

The plans include 120 metres of new pitch-side hospitality with corporate boxes, lounges and function rooms, balconies and bars, a pitch-view restaurant and a new business club.

The new east stand will boast a state-of-the-art cantilever roof which means there will be no support pillars and no restricted views.

The ground's capacity will grow from 10,000 to 12,000.

The multi-million pound proposed extension, which includes work in the North East corner of the stadium, is the latest redevelopment phase to be announced at Sixways.

General manager Charlie Little said: "We want to make Sixways something that the club and city can be proud of. Our chairman, Cecil Duckworth, will leave a legacy for rugby supporters and we believe that the new-look Sixways will be just that.

"We're going to need people to support the project, from match day fans to debenture and season ticket holders and local businesses. We are putting in a facility that will hopefully meet the needs of the region and we hope they share our enthusiasm about the exciting latest stage of our project."

The club has submitted plans for the east stand development to Wychavon District Council this week.

It already has planning permission for a new north stand, but that development is now on hold, until the east stand development has taken place.

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