Essex County Cricket Club have celebrated moving one step closer towards their new ground.

The first stage of the ground development was completed and a "topping out" ceremony, held at the top of the first block of residential flats, took place on Tuesday. 

The ceremony sees the final pour of concrete on the site into a ceremonial slab. 

Work now focueses soley on the interior of the building. 

Sandra Pontin, the Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford, representatives from developers MCD and construction firm Kier, attended the ceremony. 

They were joined by Essex CEO Derek Bowden and a number of players, such as Graham Napier, David Masters and Matt Salisbury.

As part of the proceedings, a small pine tree was left at the top, and a bottle of beer was poured over the topping out slab. 

Derek Bowden said “This an important moment in the recent history of the Club.

"We want to have a top class Category C ground, and the completion of Phase One is a key part of that process.

"The next stage will include a completed pavilion, which will be a fantastic facility for players, staff and Members.

"This step in the development will not start until Autumn 2015, as we have committed to our fixtures here at The Essex County Ground.

"Ideally we would not relocate away from Chelmsford at any point during the development programme.”