Yorkshire have been installed as clear 5-1 favourites by Ladbrokes to win the county championship title this season.

And Yorkshire opener and England 'A' captain, Michael Vaughan, was today slapping a £500 charity bet on the White Rose side finishing top of the pile.

If successful, Ladbrokes will donate £3,000 to the appeal fund for Jamie Hood, the former Yorkshire Seconds player who was left paralysed over a year ago following a motor car accident in Cape Town.

Hood, who comes from Saltburn, has now been moved into a new purpose-built Cheshire Homes flat on Teesside.

Vaughan, due back at Headingley with Yorkshire today after the club's pre-season tour of South Africa, said: "It's quite an honour to be regarded by Ladbrokes as favourites for the championship when you consider the quality of the other first class counties.

"The support Ladbrokes are offering in aid of the Jamie Hood Appeal will be a great incentive and we'll make very effort to ensure that this bet is a winner both for Yorkshire and Jamie."

Ladbrokes sports betting spokesman Sean Boyce said: "A Yorkshire win would be a hugely popular result among cricket fans - and a rather expensive result for us!"

Yorkshire last season finished third in the championship, their best effort since coming second in 1975, and this summer they will be looking for their first title success since 1968.

Another big incentive for winning the title is that this is the competition's last season in its present form before splitting into two divisions next year.

Current champions Leicestershire are second favourites at 6-1 along with Warwickshire while Lancashire and Surrey are quoted at 7-1 and Kent 10-1.

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