Cricket club plans new pavilion

An historic pavilion at Kidderminster Cricket Club which was gutted by a devastating arson attack could be replaced by a modern building.

The pavilion dated back more than 135 years and once hosted WG Grace.

It was destroyed on April 6. The Old Pavilion at the club in Chester Road North was engulfed by flames in the early hours, sending decades of cricket history up in smoke.

The remains of the wooden building have now had to be demolished for health and safety reasons because they were in danger of collapsing into Offmore Lane.

The two-storey pavilion was moved to the Chester Road North site in 1870 from the previous ground at the junction of Lorne Street and Villers Street.

But officials believe it probably pre-dated that by some years.

Norman Broadfield, chairman of Chester Road Sport Club, of which Kidderminster Cricket Club is part, said today: "We are talking to the insurance company and seeing how they react.

"The building was insured but it could be a month or two before anything is sorted out.

"We want to be able to rebuild it because it was useful for storage but it will never be as it was."

West Mercia Police urge anyone with information to call 08457 444888.