Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the cricket fraternity and local people have reacted with anger and dismay to the vandalism of Southtown Common cricket square, which happened sometime over Sunday night.    

Simon Mutten Environmental Services Manager for the Borough Council said: “This was not an act of mindless vandalism. There has been major criminal damage to the cricket square at Southtown Common which would appear to have been pre-planned, as the person or persons involved used spades to dig the turf up.

“The square has been dug up over its entire area. There will be no more cricket on the square this season and we foresee that it will be costly to rectify the damage.

“We are working with GYB Services and our sports turf consultants to look at how we can get the square back into use as soon as possible. The police have been informed of the incident and are investigating, and we would encourage anyone with any information to come forward to help by calling Norfolk Constabulary on 08456 456 4567, or if they wish to remain anonymous they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

"This is a totally mindless action and has cost a great number of cricketers to lose their chosen sport for what will almost certainly be the rest of the season,” said Councillor Jim Shrimplin Cabinet Member (Environment).

“There will also be considerable costs involved in restoring the pitch to a safe and playable condition and this will have to be a charge against the rates and therefore all ratepayers will have to contribute to the stupid few that have perpetrated this vandalism."

For further information please contact the Environmental Services Manager on 01493 846449.