CRICKET club officials are appalled that new equipment installed just three weeks ago has been vandalised beyond repair.

Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club laid a new artificial practice strip and set up new nets with the help of a £4,000 National Lottery grant.

The progressive club, which has been promoted in each of the last two seasons, is aiming to involve the wider community, especially youngsters, in the game.

Club secretary Lee Weldon said: "The netting was vandalised at the weekend. Youths were climbing up it and using it as an assault course.

"The nets are used for safety to stop the ball flying around and it's all been ripped and torn. We can't use it any more, it's no good."

The nets are essential for proper practice because the cricketers are part of a sports club at Moore Lane and fields are often used by other clubs, including archery and football.

Mr Weldon added: "I don't want to use a clich, but we're gutted. I put the Lottery package together and when it came we had seven or eight of us at the ground to put the nets up and it took a good two or three hours.

"Since then, nearly all the members of the cricket club have had the benefit of it.

"At the moment it's being used by the first team, second team and the juniors, so it's a big blow to everybody.