Damage caused at Woolpit Cricket Club as vandals take mower for joyride

An outfield mower worth between £4,000 and £5,000 was damaged after joyriders broke into a cricket club.

The groundsman for Parkers Pitches, which takes care of the grounds of Woolpit Cricket Club in Woolpit, near Bury St Edmunds, found the damaged mower at 6.40am.

Will Parker, the owner of Parkers Pitches said: "Someone managed to start the mower and took it for a joyride around the club, over the squares and on the pitch - luckily it was so dry that not a lot of damage was done.

"They managed to drive it into one of the fence posts and broke off one of the cutting units of the mower which is not ideal.

"It feels like it's just kids having a laugh and messing about with the mower."

The culprits did not break into any of the buildings.

The mower does require a key to start, but Will says a standard key can be used 'if you're in the know'.

Despite the damage, he said the club was lucky.

"We're quite lucky. Because we're a contracting business, we've got backup machines to replace it for now. But most clubs have one machine and they wouldn't be able to cut the outfield this weekend if this happened to them.

"It would probably cost £4,000 or £5,000."

The club does not have any CCTV on the grounds, but Will hopes that someone may have seen something as the club is near the road.

A spokesman for Suffolk police has said the case is closed pending further investigation.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting reference 37/25269/22.