A WOODEN gate was smashed and a dustbin set on fire when vandals struck at Thornton-le-Dale Cricket Club.

It is believed to have happened during last Thursday night.

One of the large white screens was rammed into the wooden gate at the entrance to the ground, smashing it to pieces.

Near the pavilion, a metal dustbin and its contents were set on fire.

It is thought the vandals then kicked it over, spilling the burning contents onto the nearby grass.

The club, which has three senior teams and two junior teams, has suffered from vandalism before.

A temporary pavilion provided by Flamingo Land for the third team has been damaged and window panes smashed in the past two years.

The main pavilion between two of the pitches was built six years ago at a cost of around £100,000. and an extension was added recently costing £45,000.

Groundsman Colin Pickering said: “It is just sheer mindlessness. Maybe they were trying to set fire to the pavilion.”

Mr Pickering said the damaged screen had now been repaired, and the wooden gates have been replaced with a new set made of steel.

A police officer visited the scene on Friday to take notes and talk to members of the club.

The following night, the score-box at Sheriff Hutton Cricket Club was broken into, but nothing appeared to have been taken.

“Both these incidents were just sheer wilful vandalism,” said Sgt Steve Pearce, of Ryedale police.