YORKSHIRE expect to generate sales of at least half-a-million pounds as a direct result of winning the County Championship last season for the first time in 33 years.

Tony Panaro, the club's commercial director, said he had been astounded at the general interest in scooping up collectibles and other items ever since Yorkshire clinched the title in August.

"Demand for our 2001 collection has been phenomenal and we will top £100,000 for the Christmas period alone," he said.

"Our staff were so busy sending out orders that we had to ask members of the Yorkshire Cricket Supporters' Association to give us a hand to get on top of the situation.

"By the time the new season starts in April, I expect we will have netted £500,000 as a consequence finishing top of the Championship table."

Panaro said that membership for next season was already showing a 25 per cent increase over the previous year and it now stood at around the 10,500 mark.

Updated: 09:12 Wednesday, December 19, 2001