Yorkshire boost youth cricket

Yorkshire will use the 2.5 per cent cut in VAT to divert funds towards youth development in the county.

As the county had already sold 2009 memberships and tickets for the npower Ashes Test next summer, it has been left with a pot of funds that would previously have been paid to HM Revenue & Customs.

Instead, this will be used to create additional youth cricket opportunities across the county.

Memberships or Ashes tickets bought after December 1 2008 will remain at original prices with 2.5 percent going towards this fund.

When the 2009 fixture schedule for all other matches - including England’s one-day international fixture at Headingley Carnegie - has been finalised, the club will publish ticket prices which will take account of all relevant factors including the 15 per cent VAT rate.

The club’s retail store is now using the new rate of VAT on all transactions. Corporate hospitality packages, as sold by Headingley Hospitality, are priced exclusive of VAT and therefore will automatically reflect the new rate.