ORGANISERS of an event that turned Worcester city centre streets into an enormous cricket ground were bowled over by the support from the public.

The Street Sixes tournament proved a big hit when it returned to the city on Monday, with teams from a host of local businesses and organisations slogging it out in matches played on impromptu pitches in Angel Place and Broad Street.

There were 24 teams of six who took part including two from event sponsors the Worcestershire Ambassadors, as well as David Lloyd and BMW, Sanlam, West Mercia Police, Tesco and Santander.

The event was helping to bring cricket to a wider audience, showing the sport can be played in the most unlikely of places.

The competition, which was played with a soft ball, also raises money for the Worcestershire Cobham Cricket Trust which is taking cricket into disadvantages communities where young people have limited opportunities.

The hope is that a new Moeen Ali - the Worcestershire and England international cricketer who originally started playing the sport on the streets of Birmingham - can be discovered and inspired to take up the sport.

Tom Hill, cricket development director at Worcestershire County Cricket Club who helped run the Street Sixes event, said: “We have 240 people taking part this year and we are aiming to raise £3,000.

“Money raised at last year's event was used to run three special schools.”

Guy Marson, from Modus Creative, who took part in the event, added: “This event is growing - there are more teams this year.

“Members of the public have been joining in, taking part by fielding.”

For more on the event visit worcestershirestreetsixes.co.uk.