THE economic spin-off from the weekend's cricket internationals staged in the North-East could be worth up to £4m, it emerged yesterday.

The 23,000 visitors to Durham County Cricket Club's ground at Chester-le-Street over the last two days stumped up enough cash to give the area's hoteliers, pub landlords and shopkeepers a much-needed financial shot in the arm.

Saturday's one-day match at the Riverside between England and the West Indies was a 15,000 sell-out, with pub landlords reporting that a large number of the crowd stayed on to drink in the town.

On top of that, 8,000 turned up yesterday for the Zimbabwe versus West Indies match.

Durham County Cricket Club chairman Bill Midgley declared the weekend a resounding success, adding the club is now hungry for more.

He said: "This weekend now gives us the chance to put our hat in the ring for a Test match.

"There is nothing available until 2003 but that doesn't mean we can sit on our laurels - we have to start working for that now.

"This has shown the world that the North-East can stage a big sporting event. It proves the region is alive and bubbly and can stand alongside the rest."

Mr Midgley added: "I've heard there wasn't a hotel room to be had in the town and the pubs did an absolutely roaring trade.

"Obviously the cricket club has done very well out of it but we've also put plenty into the town. A figure of £3m-£4m would not be unrealistic. It's quite staggering."