Battle Cricket Club hit by vandals

Vandals used a rope, in place to fence off the square, to pull down sightscreens before smashing them and using the stakes to gouge holes in the under 13's pitch, rendering it unplayable.

The damage, which happened between 9.30pm on May 4 and 8am the next day, was discovered by one young player as he made his way home from school and reported by a nearby resident.

It is estimated the damage at George Meadow will cost several hundred, possibly up to one thousand, pounds to repair.

Phil Harrod, chairman of Battle Cricket Club, said: "There is a lot of work involved in running a cricket club and Jon Carthew, our groundsman, has spent considerable time and effort in making up purpose-built sightscreens to cater for the undulating ground - these sightscreens need to be quite tall to be effective.

"To actually buy these from a company would be in the region of 2,000 plus.

"Also a lot of time and effort has also been put into making the square one of the best pitches to play on in the area.

"More than 2,000 was spent at the end of last year in redressing (new top soil/fertilisation etc) the whole of the square and it is looking really good again.

"However, what is really galling is the attack on the track prepared for a young colts game.

"We are investing in the youth of the community and have some very promising young cricketers coming through."

A few days later it was noticed the guttering on the pavilion itself had been dislodged and a new felt roof, laid just last week, had been torn.

The vandals had also tried to force their way through the roof and break through the corrugated roof of an adjoining shed - without success.

A rough estimate of repairing the damage to the roof is around 50.

It is not the first time the club has been targeted by vandals.

Mr Harrod said: "We have had, over the years, the vandals and local yobs attacking it from time to time, jumping up on the roof and, going back years ago, they set fire to our original pavilion."

He added that empty bottles and cans have previously been found on the site.

Sergeant Dan Russell, of Battle police, said: "I am working closely with the cricket club to identify who was responsible for this mindless damage.

"The cricket club is a facility used and loved by people of all ages.

"It is sad that vandals have disrupted and put at risk the enjoyment of those wanting to play cricket. Somebody knows who was responsible for this.

"I would ask that they contact myself or the cricket club with any information."

Anyone with information can contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.