A Huntingdonshire cricket club has been left "devastated" after a break-in last week. 

Upwood Cricket Club, near Ramsey, reported the burglary to police on Tuesday, November 12 after four unknown individuals were captured on CCTV entering the pavillion and a storage shed. 

The club's bar manager, Tracey Short, told The Hunts Post that while "swift action" by club members saw the intruders flee "empty-handed", buildings had sustained damage. 

A crowdfunding campaign has now been launched to raise "vital funds" in a bid to improve the club's security, including the installation of a security fence and additional CCTV cameras. 

Mrs Short described the break-in as "soul destroying" for the club and said it would now be "forced" to spend money it "doesn't have" on preventing future incidents. 

She said: "We're a very small club and we don't have major sponsors like others - we're essentially volunteer run and we put a lot of effort into giving something to the community. 

"We've worked really hard over the last two years trying to make the club a much more inclusive space and when things like this happen it's soul destroying. 

"We launched the fundraiser to help repair the damage that the buildings sustained during the break-in and we're looking to increase security around the site."

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The club is hoping to raise £5,000 and has already organised events, including a Christmas bingo at Bury Village Hall, in Huntingdon, on December 7. 

Mrs Short added: "It does feel like you're taking two steps ahead and then four backwards.

"Instead of raising money from the bingo, which was going to go back into the club for something positive, we're now having to use the funds from that to protect the club more."

Cambridgeshire Police has been approached for comment.

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