OFFICIALS at Blackrod Cricket Club are counting the cost of an arson attack on their ground -- the latest in a series of attacks on the club during the last two years.

Police are investigating reports that youths were seen near to the ground in Vicarage Road before the club's former pavilion, now used as a storage building, was gutted in a fire which is believed to have been started deliberately.

Today -- as the clean-up operation continued -- only ashes remained of the 20-year-old timber building.

Machinery and grass cutting equipment were also destroyed in the fire on Tuesday evening.

Club secretary Peter Lennard said it was the latest in a long line of attacks over two years but added that they were determined it would not stop the new season getting underway in April.

Mr Lennard said: "It was the pavilion until about 20 years ago so it holds a lot of memories for a lot of people. The attacks have been going on for the last two years.

"We even arranged a meeting with Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly last year but were broken into the day before. Members have just had enough."

The small pavilion was situated at one end of the ground. Club officials say youths may have jumped over a small boundary fence to get into the ground.

They are now renewing appeals to Bolton Council for help to install secure perimeter fencing.

Mr Lennard added: "It is the same problems that everyone is facing at the moment and small clubs like us suffer. It is just needless vandalism. I cannot understand the mentality of some people.

"These facilities are for children of the future as well. If this is youths causing trouble it is in effect their own future that they are destroying."

A police spokesman said the incident, which happened at 9.30pm on Tuesday, was being investigated and the police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information should call 0161 872 5050.