Cricket club hosts game after devastating fire

Pete Randerson, former club captain, said the club played a game against Exmouth

Members of a Devon cricket club "devastated" by a fire which destroyed their clubhouse have rallied to play a match at the ground.

Firefighters were called to Heathcoat Cricket Club's wooden pavilion, near Tiverton, on Friday at 05:22 BST, to find the building fully engulfed by flames.

Club members said the building - in the grounds of the National Trust's Knightshayes Court - had been completely destroyed.

But the club overcame their "heartbreak" to play a game against Exmouth on Saturday - getting match-ready in their cars instead of their usual clubhouse changing rooms.

Former club captain Pete Randerson said: "I don't think you can put into a words how big of a loss this is for the community.

"The cricket club is used by thousands of people every summer."

Mr Randerson said the fire was "an absolutely enormous loss" for club members who had volunteered "hours and hours of their time" to build it

The fire service said the cause of the blaze was not yet known and an investigation continues.

The fire forced staff to close parts of the Knightshayes estate to visitors temporarily.

The clubhouse was built in 2013, using timber from trees on the National Trust site which had blown down in a storm the previous year.

Mr Randerson said the fire was "an absolutely enormous loss" for the many members of the club who had volunteered "hours and hours of their time" to build it.

The clubhouse was built in 2013 using timber from trees that had blown down in a storm

On Friday, Chris Salter, one of the club's team captains, said he was "devastated" to hear what had happened.

"I woke up at 06:30 to the news," he said.

"I haven't seen it - I'm not sure if I want to.

"It's such a community hub for all of us and to go and see it at this stage - I don't think I'm quite ready yet."

The cause of the fire is not yet known and investigations are ongoing

Devon Cricket Foundation managing director, Matt Theedom, said: "Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to everyone associated with Heathcoat Cricket Club.

"Having supported the club and witnessed the hard work, blood sweat and tears that went into building the clubhouse, it’s heartbreaking to see.

"I have no doubt that the Devon cricket community will rally around to support Heathcoat and its members at this distressing time."

Heathcoat cricket club is one of the largest cricket clubs in Devon, following a merger with Sampford Peverell and Tiverton Cricket club last year.