Fire-hit cricket pavilion 'may rise in 18 months'

The wooden building was completely destroyed

A cricket club pavilion levelled by fire could be rebuilt within 18 months, members hope.

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.

The 12-year-old building in the grounds of the National Trust's Knightshayes Court was completely destroyed.

Team captain Chris Salter said the club saw it as an "opportunity" to rebuild "and come back stronger".

The pavilion was only 12 years old when it was destroyed

Mr Salter told BBC Radio Devon that the club was talking to its insurers and landlord the National Trust.

"It will probably take 18 months to two years to rebuild," he said.

"We want to make it special and perfect facilities for cricket in Tiverton and something we are proud of."

He said the "absolutely heartbreaking" feelings of members after the fire had galvanised sentiments.

"Now we see it as an opportunity," he said.

"There's obviously sadness, but we have rallied and we want to come back stronger and build better facilities."

The club played their home against Exmouth at the ground on Saturday, with portable loos, tents and other facilities provided by local supporters.

The club said it understood that an electrical fault was the cause of the blaze.