WORCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club have marked their 150th anniversary with the unveiling of a civic plaque in the city building on the actual date when the club was officially formed.

It was on March 3, 1865 that the county club was born in a meeting at the Star Hotel in Foregate Street in what is now the Whitehouse Hotel.

A combination of civic dignitaries, current players, county vice presidents and board members were present at the hotel to witness the plaque ceremony.

The plaque, which was commissioned and organised by the Worcester Civic Society, will eventually take pride of place on the wall of the hotel in Foregate Street.

Its unveiling also signified the launch of a momentous year in the county's history which will be marked with a series of major events.

Worcestershire commercial director Jon Graham said: "We spoke to Worcester City Council and they agreed to have a blue plaque to commemorate the 150th Anniversary Year.

"The plaque was commissioned and organised by the Worcester Civic Society.

"The club was founded on March 3 1865 at what was the Star Hotel, which is now the Whiteouse Hotel in Foregate Street so it was fitting to unveil a plaque in the hotel on the anniversary date.

"Various dignitaries were invited, there were some players there, vice presidents, committee, board members, and it was really to signify the start of a lot of the events that we are going to be doing.

"It's really the start of what is going to be a really exciting season, not just on the field but off the field as well.

"It was very much a ceremony to kick start things off and then there will be other significant events during 2015 which we will finalise and announce shortly.

"It was a symbolic gesture of 'this is where it all started' and was quite a nice thing to do all those years on.

"There are not blue plaques dotted around the city and thousands of people will walk past this one every day - like the 'Tip' Foster situated in New Road.

"It will take pride of place on the wall outside the hotel - hopefully for the next 150 years!"

Graham added: "This is a club to be really proud of and I think the city in general is heading in the right direction."

"There have been some interesting times over that period and I think when we were under 10 feet of water in the summer of 2007, not a lot of people thought we would be here in 2015.

"The club has changed in that period with £10 million of investment in new buildings and facilities and Division One cricket now to look forward to."

Rachael Mitchell, General Manager at the Worcester Whitehouse Hotel said: "The hotel has a proud and long tradition stretching back many years and the same applies to Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

"We are proud of the fact that the hotel was the starting point for the club which is now 150 years old, a club which has enjoyed a lot of success and is a key focal point of the city.

"To now mark the occasion with a plaque situated at the hotel is indeed something we've been honoured to be associated with.

"Here's now to the next 150 years for Worcestershire and hopefully many more successful years to come for the hotel as well."