VANDALS broke into a cricket club, smashed plants and broke down doors in a daytime raid.
The break-in at South Nutfield Cricket Club on Monday has devastated club members who had recently finished work revamping the clubhouse in Mill Street.
Members arriving at the site on Monday evening found the building had been broken into, new plant pots smashed and the flowers strewn around the building. The stone barbecue had also been smashed – possibly by a sledgehammer.
No money was taken during the raid because a club member had been to the clubhouse earlier in the day and removed cash from the till.
Bob Wood, whose grandson plays at the club, said: "The place has been trashed.
"Plants and boxes were strewn all over the place, hanging baskets have been ripped off the walls."
He added: "It's a real shame because they have just started a women's cricket team and they had put a lot of work into decorating the club and getting it looking good.
"A lot of work has been put into the club and these people have just come in and torn it apart."
The burglars broke into the main clubhouse building between 3.30pm and 4pm on Monday but apparently triggered alarms when they attempted to access the bar area and the changing rooms.
Surrey Police officers attended the scene on Monday evening and scene of crime officers were taking photos of the damage and recording evidence.
Another club member, who asked not to be named, told the Mirror: "It looks like they ripped one of the doors off its hinges.
"They smashed the brick barbecue which had been built outside, that would have taken a sledgehammer or something."
He added: "It knocks the stuffing out of you after all the work that has been put in."
The break-in comes eight days after the club held an open day to give residents in the area a chance to look around the newly decorated clubhouse.
