Northampton Saints rugby club has submitted plans to Northampton Borough Council (NBC) for a £5.5m redevelopment of its Franklin's Gardens stadium.

Plans include replacing the ageing Sturtridge Pavilion with a new, 2,000-capacity North Stand which will increase capacity at the ground to just short of 16,000. It is the last phase of a 12-year redevelopment of the stadium.

The planned works have already received initial backing from the council.

Council leader David Mackintosh said: "If approved, the larger stadium would see more rugby fans brought into our town.

"This can only be good for our local economy and give more Saints supporters the chance to cheer on the players in black, green and gold."