A new pavilion has risen from the ashes at an arson-hit Black Country cricket club.

Since the wooden pavilion at Lye Cricket Club went up in flames in 2007, campaigners have been raising funds for a brick-built replacement.

A pitched roof and electronic scoreboard form the centrepiece of the new building.

The facility will be officially opened on Saturday by Rachael Heyhoe Flint, who was at the club for a preview yesterday.

The former England women’s cricket team captain, now vice-president of Wolves, played at the opening of the last pavilion in 1971, after the previous clubhouse was also destroyed by arson.

She said: “The club has worked enormously hard to replace the burnt down pavilion and I am thrilled to be officially opening it on Saturday – 39 years after I played there and captured the wicket of England player Basil D’Oliviera on 99 runs.”

Many items of memorabilia were destroyed in the blaze, and the club appealed to Express & Star readers to donate photographs to be displayed inside the new building.

Chairman and president Martin Borley said: “We are absolutely delighted to have the pavilion back up and running.

“It is the club’s first brick-built pavilion, which we hope will combat the problems with arson.”

Bosses hope this building – the club’s fifth pavilion- will eventually stage community activities.