THE COMMITTEE of Malmesbury Cricket Club have spoken of their disappointment after they discovered their clubhouse had been targeted by vandals.

Club secretary Martin Bridge called the attack "demoralising" after the club's groundsman found that vandals had smashed all the mirrors and lit a small fire in the changing rooms at some point between October 18-25.

"Our groundsman went up there to a nose around and check on our equipment and basically found the changing rooms had been broken into and pretty much demolished," Mr Bridge said.

"Most of it is smoke damage from where they lit the fire but they decided to smash all the mirrors for some reason and that is likely to cost £50-100. Who knows what the smoke damage will cost - we will need to have a good clean up first.

"Unfortunately these things happen but it is frustrating because there are only four of us who to so much for the club. We do a hell of a lot and it is demoralising and takes away the enjoyment of it all."

Officers from Malmesbury Police have been actively patrolling the area around the club to try and curb some of the anti-social behaviour there but the club secretary believes this attack is one of the worst in the club's history.

He said: "We have always had ongoing problems with this sort of thing because it is so remote up there. People go up there to have a cigarette or a beer and usually leave behind litter but this is the worst we have had in all the thirteen years I have been at the club.

"If you know anything please get in touch with the police. This club is run entirely on a voluntary basis and we are trying to keep our heads above water but things like this make it more of a struggle. We have our annual club dinner next week and this puts more pressure on us to make more money for the club."

Anyone with information should call Malmesbury Police on 101 quoting reference 54160095855.