CRICKET clubs across West Somerset and the surrounding area have been put on high alert after it appeared they were being targeted by a gang of burglars just as the playing season has started.

In the latest strike last week, the thieves broke into a shed and a container at Exford Cricket Club on the village’s Queen Elizabeth II playing field, in Church Hill, and stole a ride-on outfield mower and other equipment, while also pouring transmission oil around the site.

Club spokesman Will Lock said: “The equipment stolen affects not just Exford Cricket Club but also Exmoor Community Youth Club and Exmoor Croquet Club, as without the mower and other bits of equipment the activities which all use the field are affected.”

Now, a £10,000 online fund-raising appeal has been launched to try to save the cricket club’s season.

The Royal Oak public house, in Withypool, has also been running a raffle support the cricketers with a prize of a meal for two, which will be drawn on Tuesday night (May 9).

The Exford break-in happened some time between 6 pm on May 1 and 8 am on May 2.

Last month, Holford Cricket Club was targeted by the gang when containers on the playing fields were broken into and mowing equipment, power tools, and garden equipment were stolen.

Holford Village Hall was also burgled at about the same time, overnight on April 19 to 20.

In both Holford incidents an angle grinder or similar tool was used for the break-ins.

And in March, a groundsman’s outbuilding was broken into in Durleigh Road, Bridgwater, when thieves stole a red quadbike, a pair of bolt cutters, and three set of keys, and caused damage to a fence.

The Durleigh burglary occurred overnight on March 15 to 16.

Mr Lock said he had been overwhelmed with the offers of support from individuals and businesses wanting to help the Exford club.

He said: “The phone calls and messages have meant so much to all of us. Your support has been truly overwhelming in our time of need. We are truly lucky to have had such support from the local community.”

Mr Lock said people had offered the loan of machinery, and to help with cutting the grass, cleaning up the site, and fund-raising.

He said: “We know this is not going to be an easy task to recover from this happening and it is going to take us much work and fund-raising to try to get fully back to square one.

“One thing for sure, we will not be beaten.”

Exford Cricket Club’s online fund-raising page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/exfordcc.

Anybody with information or CCTV images should contact the police by calling 101 and quoting the reference number 5223101340, stating NHW. Or, they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

PCSO Michelle Haimes said police advice was for cricket clubs to consider blocking doors with a vehicle overnight and to install alarms.

She said serial numbers and makes of mowers and tools should be recorded and photographs of items kept to help with identification.

Any incidents of suspicious behaviour, day or night, should be reported to the police.

Exford Cricket Club hopes the online fund-raising campaign will not only pay for repairs and new equipment but also cover the cost of replacing an artificial turf wicket next to the main cricket square which was often used because of Exmoor's challenging weather patterns but had now reached the end of its useable life through wear and tear.

Any funds left over would then be put toward enhancing the cricket pavilion, a re-purposed second hand school building which had now fallen well below acceptable modern standards, including installing a shower.