Stephen Speight, the 31-year-old cricket steward from Bradford who was injured during the Headingley pitch invasion on Sunday's was released from hospital yesterday afternoon.

Mr Speight's injuries were not quite so serious as first feared although he did sustain a broken nose and severe bruising to his stomach and ribs.

"My head feels like it has just been kicked around a football field," he said.

"A steward at Valley Parade for the past three years, Mr. Speight was doing his first duty at a cricket match and was aiding the exit of England all-rounder Dominic Cork from the field when he was set upon by a group of spectators who kicked him in the head, ribs and stomach and then stamped on his face.

Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell condemned the "mindless attack" but praised Mr Speight's efforts to control the pitch invasion.

Hassell said that a full investigation into Sunday's incidents was continuing and the Police were also carrying out their own inquiries.

Updated: 09:35 Tuesday, June 19, 2001