The County Ground was under siege on Saturday morning as members of the public tried to get their tickets for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy semi-final between Somerset and Warwickshire on August 11th.

There was a large numbers of personal callers, and four members of staff manning the telephones were hardly enough to cope with the volume of the demand. Chief executive Peter Anderson told me: "Tickets are going very quickly, and if they are not all sold today the remainder will be snapped up early next week.

"This is the biggest match that we have hosted at Taunton since we beat Surrey in the Nat West semi two years ago, and we are expecting to win. People who are coming to the game are advised that no alcohol will be allowed inside the ground. Special parking arrangements are in the process of being finalised, and a press announcement will be made regarding this during the week. The advice to everyone is to get to the ground in plenty of time."

In front of the Ondaatje Pavilion, a temporary stand was being erected which is expected to increase the ground capacity for the match by an additional 1,000.

The stand will be used mainly by the travelling Warwickshire supporters on the day.

© SOMERSET