CHAIRMAN Martin Newell has slammed the ‘mindless vandals’ who have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to cricket equipment in Monmouth.

Mr Newell says Monmouth Cricket Club’s members are devastated after thugs struck at the Sports Ground in the town between 8.30pm and 10.30pm on Saturday night.

Vandals crushed steel frames on one of the club’s mobile pitch covers and stretched guttering on another, with the damage estimated at around £4,500.

The incident overshadowed Monmouth’s emphatic nine-wicket home triumph against Llantwit Fardre on the opening day of their new Thomas, Carroll Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League Division Three campaign.

Ironically, the match was only played due to the effectiveness of the mobile covers, which are used to keep rain water off the playing surface, after the region was hit by wet weather on Saturday morning.

It is not the first time vandals have targeted the pitch covers at the Sports Ground – the fabric was severely damaged in an incident in May 2006.

Mr Newell said: “We can’t understand why anyone would take pleasure from damaging the covers and, as a volunteer-run community club, all the members are devastated by what has happened.

“I can’t help but call it mindless vandalism – there is no other explanation.

“We can now use only one of the three sections of the pitch covers, so we will need to buy a new set because the other two are not fit for purpose and damaged beyond repair.

“We got off to an excellent start in our first game of the new season and were thrilled to see our young Wales under-13 spinner Ben Davies take four wickets.

“We had a lovely barbeque after the match and everyone was full of enthusiasm until I had a call later that evening, after everyone had left the ground, to inform me of the damage caused.

"It is heartbreaking for everyone involved at the club, including the parents of our junior section and our sponsors.”

He added: “We have reported the incident to the local police, taken photographs of the damage and highlighted the incident on social media. We would urge anyone who knows anything about the damage to contact the police.”

Monmouth Cricket Club share the Sports Ground with other clubs in Monmouth Sports Association and only took over the pitch and outfield for the summer season last Wednesday.

It is a blow for the border club, who are hoping to have a new permanent net practice facility installed at the ground this summer after a four-year project.

The club are also planning to host high-profile matches at the ground during 2015, including Wales and Gwent age-group representative games and the final of the popular Macey Cup competition.