According to media reports, West Sussex-based sports company Woodworm, best known for producing cricket bats, has received a seven-figure cash sum to enable it to expand into the world of golf.

Woodworm has used the money to sign a five-year clothing deal with three-time golf major winner Ernie Els, which will see the South African design his own range of Woodworm golf apparel.

Woodworm enjoyed 10% of the British cricket bat market last summer after agreeing long-term deals with Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen in the run-up to England's Ashes series win.