WORCESTERSHIRE have received a major financial boost after a flood-ravaged winter at New Road by agreeing a six-figure shirt sponsorship deal with Arctic Spas.

The hot tub manufacturer and supplier has put pen to paper on a three-year deal to be the County’s main shirt sponsor until the end of the 2016 campaign.

It is a case of Arctic Spas extending and strengthening their liaison with Worcestershire, whose headquarters has been underwater for much of the past two months, after initially being their Twenty20 sponsors last season.

County chief executive David Leatherdale hopes it will be the start of a “long-term” relationship with the Hartlebury-based company.

Leatherdale, a former Worcestershire all-rounder for nearly two decades, said: “Arctic were with us last year and for them to come on board for three years as the main shirt sponsor shows confidence from them in the club.

“This is now a very different business that sponsors are buying into and, with the new facilities, we can offer a diversity that we didn't have before that people are keen to be involved with.

“We’ve had some long-term main sponsors in the past and to get someone who came on new and fresh last year just for one specific thing, and then take it across all three formats of the game, shows what cricket has got to offer.”

David Martin, Arctic Spas’ president of UK operations, added: “The progress Worcestershire have made with their infrastructure and buildings was a massive part for us.

“They are certainly looking to the future and have all the steps there to take Worcestershire cricket back to where it used to be, at the top of the tree.

“We don’t go into anything blindly, so I have read up on the club and who has been involved and the history. You need to take everything into consideration when you are doing any sort of sponsorship and I just felt the way they are looking forward, with the history behind them, is a good mix for Arctic Spas.”