Nottinghamshire recorded a 65% increase in attendances at domestic cricket matches at Trent Bridge in 2008.

ECB figures showed that the increase exceeded the average increase of 23% with national combined attendances reaching 1.5million for the first time.

Overall, attendances at domestic and international matches rose by 10%, with 2,243,496 fans attending matches in 2008, the highest figure ever.

Notts enjoyed significant rises in all four competitions, helped in part by dry weather at one day fixtures, with total Friends Provident attendances more than doubling.

NatWest Pro40 attendances at Trent Bridge increased from 12054 to 20249 whilst 43865 watched Twenty Cup fixtures, up from 26293 in 2007.

Nationally, the LV County Championship saw attendances top half a million for the first time since 2003 and records a 30% rise on the previous year. Total attendance for the LV County Championship was 558,950.

The Twenty20 Cup also enjoyed record attendances and was the most watched competition, with over half a million people attending group, quarter-finals and Finals Day matches . The expanded group match phase of the competition saw a 25% increase in the number of matches with the total audience for 2008 recorded as 593,717; a 36% rise.

Elsewhere, The NatWest Pro40 attendance recorded a rise of 4% from last year with The Friends Provident Trophy recording a 7% decline from 2007.

“We are delighted to see the county game continue to grow across England and Wales,” said ECB Chief Executive David Collier.

“Many counties have invested heavily in their facilities offering a vastly improved spectator experience which coupled with some thrilling cricket in 2008, ensures the fabric of our sport remains strong.”