LANCASHIRE made an operating profit of £2,347,000 in 2017 – up by a huge 92 per cent on the previous year.

For the first time since 2014, the club also made a net surplus after interest of £971,000.

It is the second highest reported profit in the last 20 years – after the 2013 Ashes year – and, the club say, most likely the second highest in their history.

The figures for the year ended December 31, 2017 showed Test match returns significantly improved compared with 2016, despite the game again starting on a Friday.

Total attendance for the visit of South Africa exceeded 60,000 which was nearly 10,000 up on the previous year when England entertained Pakistan. In addition, the Roses T20 match generated a record attendance for the fixture of nearly 20,000.

Following the recent high profile match allocation, which includes four Test matches in five years, including an Ashes in 2023, as well as the appointment of Emirates OId Trafford as a host venue for the new T20 competition, Lancashire will stage international cricket through to 2024.

Off the field the new four-star 150-bedroom Hilton Garden Inn opened at the end of August and exceeded expectations in its first four months of trading, achieving more than £1million of room revenue, an average occupancy of 61 per cent and average daily room rate of £92.

Lancashire finance director, Lee Morgan, said: “With the completion of the new hotel bringing the lengthy development period to a conclusion, the club is now able to fully focus on maximising the return on its investment by growing its business activities for the future benefit of cricket at both elite and recreational level.

“It is important that the club uses its world class facilities to create a lasting legacy with Emirates Old Trafford being the centre for cricket in the North West.”