AN ARSON attack has wrecked Lye Cricket Club’s new £230k pavilion which was built just three years ago to replace a building destroyed in a similar fire.

The pavilion at the ground on Stourbridge Road went up in smoke on Sunday August 11 at 3am - causing around £60k of damage.

A plastic litter bin at the front of the building was set on fire with the blaze spreading through wooden decking and into the pavilion.

A passing police patrol spotted smoke coming from the building and alerted fire crews - which club secretary Jake Hanson said stopped it being raised to the ground.

Jake said: “We had just got everything rebuilt and had been building up membership numbers - then this goes and happens “It’s mainly the lounge area that has been ruined due to smoke damage.

“If it wasn’t for the police spotting it the whole place would have gone up in flames so we have got to be thankful it wasn’t worse.”

Fixtures and fittings have been destroyed as has the ceiling, which had to be pulled down by firefighters as they fought the flames.

Jake, aged 22, from Pedmore, said the costs of repairing the pavillion, around 60k, would most likely be covered by insurance. It is hoped repair work will be completed by Christmas.

Meanwhile games have been continuing at the club with defiant players taking to the pitch against Old Hill yesterday (Sunday).

Jake said the football club at the same site had let cricketers use its facilities.

A beer festival at the club will also go ahead later this month. The Black Country Beer Festival, on August 22, 23, 24, is one of the club’s main fundraisers.

For details visit www.blackcountrybeerfestival.com