VANDALS have broken into a Cricket club leaving it with the second big bill for clearing up in a year.

Portland Red Triangle Cricket Club was broken into overnight and vandals smashed up the kitchen, took a power drill, keys to lockers, sweets and crisps.

Club members had recently revamped the club house ahead of the new season and cricket camps being held on the site later this week.

Cricket club members Matthew Randell, 16, and Jordan Wilson, 17, went to the club to practise their cricket on Monday afternoon when they noticed someone had broken in.

A window at the front had been broken and vandals also appeared to have got in through the back.

Matthew said: “They must have hit the window with a lot of force, it’s plastic and withstands cricket balls going into it.”

Jordan said: “I doubt they did it in daylight because the club is close to the road, it looks like they went in through the back.”

He added: “It’s quite frustrating. We have just repainted the inside and done the outside.”

Cricket Club chairman Andrew Randell, 49, said it was another blow to the club after it was broken into last May.

In that incident a hammer was left wedged into the front door of the cricket club pavilion before thieves got in through a side door, ripped off the kitchen cupboards and stole sweets.

Mr Randell said: “We feel sheer frustration. We are trying to bring the youth of the island into sport and there are a few that are trying to stop us doing it.”

Cupboards were pulled off their hinges during the attack and the window was broken with the bottom section removed, which has not been found.

Mr Randell said he didn’t know how much it would cost to replace everything.

He said: “We are going to look at other ways to store the stock from now on and won’t keep it here.

“No more valuables will be kept at the club.”

Appeal for witnesses

A spokesman for Dorset Police said they were currently investigating the break-in.

He said: “We received a call just after 1.30pm on Monday, April 18 reporting that a break in had taken place overnight at Red Triangle Cricket Club on Portland. The caller advised that access had been gained through a window and that a power drill and boxes of sweets were taken.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 01305 222222.