A cricket club has been left counting the cost after vandals went on a wrecking spree.

Yobs broke into the pavilion at Keighley Cricket Club’s Lawkholme ground and daubed paint over floors, walls, doors and windows causing thousands of pounds in damage.

They also forced entry to the clubhouse, causing damage to a fire door and setting off a burglar alarm, before making off with bottles of spirits.

Club secretary Lesley Robinson condemned the vandals’ actions and said the pavilion was being redecorated ahead of the new season when the incident happened in the early hours of Saturday.

She said: “There is paint all over the away dressing room. It is such a mess.

“One of our members had been painting it ready for the new season before they broke in.

“I don’t understand why anyone would want to destroy something like this. In the summer we sometimes have 200 children down here playing cricket from schools. This spoils it for them.

“If I could catch the culprits I would like to have them clean it up. It is so sad they would want to do this.”

It is thought the vandals gained access to the cricket ground through the Keighley Cougars ground by cutting through a wire fence. Empty drinks bottles not from the cricket club were found on the cricket field A wire connecting the old TV aerial on top of the clubhouse was cut and the burglar alarm was smashed.

The intruders daubed dark green gloss over the carpets, walls, doors, seats, windows and showers.

Mrs Robinson said she believed the intruders were scared away by the alarm. She said it is likely the culprits would have had green paint on their clothes or skin and appealed for anyone with information to contact the police.

Club chairman Robert Chapman said he believed the cost of repairs could run to thousands of pounds.

He said: “The damage is superficial but it will take a lot of work to clean up. Because of the excess on the insurance policy we will end up having to do it ourselves or pay for it from our funds.

“It is a shame when something like this happens. It is mainly volunteers who spend their time to keep the club in reasonable order so it is upsetting when it is all destroyed in a few moments of madness by some people who know nothing about it.”

Police were called out to the incident just after 4am on Saturday by security staff responding to the burglar alarm.

Anyone with information should call Keighley police on 101.