Workington Comets stars Kenneth Hansen and Ricky Wells became the first members of their 2016 team on Saturday night.

The popular pair signed contracts to stay with the club for next season in front of a packed grandstand during the final meeting of the season against Edinburgh.

Wells has enjoyed a meteoric rise from a difficult first season to outstanding No1, adding almost two points to his average this year and grabbing consistently high scores home and away.

Hansen proclaimed at the start of the season that he wanted to be the club's 'Mr Entertainment' and by the end of the season there was no doubt he had achieved it, making daring dashes around the outside his trademark against some of the Premier League's elite.

Comets owner Laura Morgan said: "Both Kenneth and Ricky have expressed a strong desire to stay with us for next season for some time, and we definitely wanted them to stay, so it was a pretty easy situation for both parties.

"We are delighted to have them signed up so early and judging by the reaction, so are the supporters.

"Ricky has had the best season of his career so far and he has got better and better as the season has progressed, increasing his average month-by-month, eventually taking the No1 spot and qualifying for the PLRC, in which he finished runner-up last weekend.

"Now he has become No1 he is determined to stay there and raise his average, which is a great attitude to have.

"Meanwhile Kenneth, having taken time to settle, has become ‘Mr. Entertainment’ at Derwent Park and his overtaking moves around there really are something else.

"His away form will improve next season and he is very determined about making that happen, but having only ridden on two of the away tracks before this year he will know what to expect next season, and that will benefit both him and the club."

Workington finished the season in eighth place in the Premier League table as a stunning unbeaten home run was contrasted by just two points on the road.