PLANS to build a three-storey media centre costing more than £1.8m at the region's flagship cricket ground have been approved.

The proposals for Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside ground at Chester-le-Street-le-Street were endorsed by Chester-le-Street District Council's planning committee.

The new facility at the international venue includes commentary areas, a press seating area and camera platform on roof, as well as facilities for food preparation and a ground floor bar.

There are also proposals to provide a further areas of seating linked to two existing areas of seating.

When planning permission was first granted for the development of a cricket ground in 1993, the proposals had envisaged a media centre on the south stand.

It is hoped the media centre will be erected in time for the Bangladesh - England npower test match starting on June 3 and the England - Australia One Day Cricket International on June 23.

A cricket club spokesman said: "The intention is to make it a multi-use centre.

"We have big internationals and domestic games, but there will be periods when it maybe standing empty, so there is scope to use it for conference and education purposes among other."

"It is another step towards completing the grounds, including the possibility of a hotel on the site in the future."

The ground floor will provide space for a bar and food preparation, while the first floor will feature tiered seating for the press, an outdoor viewing area and additional spectator seating.

The second floor would provide a number of television and radio commentary studios, while the third would comprise an open platform providing a vantage point for television cameras.

The application was approved subject to the views and comments of the Environment Agency.

Meanwhile, there are still tickets for the both matches _ available on box office 0191-387 5151.