A COMMUNITY run rugby club has launched a fundraising campaign after its clubhouse suffered a flood and two burglaries in just three days earlier this month.

Yarm Community Rugby Club is looking to raise £1,500 to help pay for essential repairs and replace the goods that were stolen during the two raids.

The burglars ransacked the clubhouse and took everything they could get their hands on – from cash from the till, alcohol from the bar, right down to the hot chocolate sachets and bags of pork scratchings.

Club chairman David Jones hopes that people will rally round and help get the club back onto its feet by making donations on its Justgiving fundraising page.

He wrote: "Sadly, during the last cold snap pipes burst and the boiler room and changing rooms were inundated with water causing significant damage.

"Worse was to follow. In the following two days the club was twice targeted by thieves who ransacked the clubhouse stealing cash and all of the bar stock – spirits, bottled beers, wine, sweets, nuts, crisps, tea, coffee, hot chocolate – they even stole charity collection boxes.

"The thieves also damaged the alarm and CCTV system beyond repair, they forced a window and kicked in almost all of the internal doors meaning that they too have to be replaced.

"We are a small but proud club that aims to be self-sustaining, whilst serving our community as best as we can, but we really do need your help. Whilst the club's small reserves will be used to do as much as possible it wont be enough to put right what mother nature and the thieves have done.

"We would be grateful beyond words for any donation that you make, as every pound will help us get back to we want to be."

Anyone who wants to support the club, based on Wass Way, Eaglescliffe, can make a donation at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/yarm-rugby

While anyone with information about either burglary, which happened in mid-December, is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101.