James Hildreth celebrating his century against Notts last season. Photo: www.ppauk.com

BIDEFORD are planning to welcome Somerset back to Westward Ho for the first time since 2013 for a testimonial game.

Somerset have granted James Hildreth a testimonial this season and are playing a number of games in Devon as part of his programme.

Bideford hosted Somerset in 2008 when Marcus Trescothick was the beneficiary. Their last visit was in 2013 as part of Arul Suppiah's testimonial season.

James HildrethSolicitors Wollen Michelmore are sponsoring the game, which takes place on Sunday, May 7 at 2.00 pm.

As crowds for previous games have been good, Bideford have planned accordingly.

Food tents and an outside bar will be open on match day. Somerset County Sports will have a stall selling cricket gear.

Tickets - priced at £6 for adults and free for Under 16s - are available from the Children's Hospice South West Shop in Mill Street, Bideford; the Londis Shop in Westward Ho!; and the Glover Stanbury office in Bridgeland Street, Bideford.

Hildreth made his Somerset debut in 2003 and was voted most promising young player of the year in 2004 by the Cricket Society. A double hundred against Bangladesh for England Under-19s probably helped sway the judges.

Despite scoring heavily in County Cricket - he has made more than 30 First Class centuries - Hildreth has never been called-up by England for a Test.

He has featured in England performance squad and also skippered England Lions on their 2011 tour to the West Indies.

Hildreth played the last time Somerset were in action at Bideford, becoming a prized scalp for Ian Hayter when he batted.

Somerset will be popping over the border again on June 20 when they are playing South Devon CC at their Newton Abbot ground in another testimonial game for Hildreth.