Essex Eagles' historic floodlit clash with Surrey Lions is set to be a complete sell-out.

Delighted acting Essex secretary Malcolm Field said tickets are selling rapidly for next Wednesday's long-awaited day-night carnival of cricket.

The reigning county champions are in town at Colchester's Castle Park theatre of light and the signs are fans will be flocking to the arena.

All the signs are the match -- the first ever competitive floodlit encounter in the county -- will be a 5,500--6,000 sell-out.

Field said: "We are highly delighted with the way things are shaping up considering Colchester United and West Ham are both playing important football matches on the same night.

"We are looking at a capacity crowd and I guess the novelty of the occasion is adding up to an exciting venture."

But Field warned: "If at any time the ground is full to capacity, the police reserve the right to close the gates if they consider there to be a danger to the public.

"Tickets on the public side of the ground are selling fast and I expect them to be totally sold out within the next 48 hours. Anyone who wants a ticket had better move fast.

"I stress again, anyone who is not a member, doesn't have a ticket, but wants to come in on the night will not be let in until half-an-hour before the start to allow those with tickets to get seated in good time.

"There will not be seats available for these specators, but if they wish to come in and stand the price will still be the same -- £10 adults or £5 juniors and seniors."

Essex have splashed out £25,000 to ship in the lights, of which £10,000 will be recovered in a subsidy from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The 45 overs-a-side game, which gets under way at 4.10pm, is not being screened on television.

Lower Castle Park car park will be open from noon and the gates to the ground will be unlocked at 2pm. Billed as a colourful game for the family, a number of entertainments have been lined up.

Music, a barbecue, the Essex Lights Dance Crew, Kwik Cricket, the Spitfire Tigers Parachute Team, plus Essex mascot Eddie the Eagle will be on show.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.