This picture shows clearly the damage done deliberately to one of the sightscreens at Bourton Vale Cricket Club.

The photo was sent to The Local Answer by Kevin Langley, the impressive chairman of the go-ahead club who also doubles up as the chairman of the Gloucestershire Cricket Board.

Not surprisingly, he was very unhappy with what he described as the “wanton vandalism”.

The attack happened just a week ago on Sunday night and, says Langley, it would appear one or more people tried to set fire to the sightscreen.

While there was obvious anger that anybody would want to do such a thing, Bourton Vale captain Charlie Garratt decided to make public his displeasure by posting a message on a Bourton-on-the-Water community social media site.

He wrote: “We’re sorry to report more mindless vandalism at the club today with one of our sightscreens being set on fire.

“We are trying desperately to finish what will be a fantastic facility for the village, but will now have to use funds from there to repair this damage.”

The anticipated cost of replacing two sightscreens – Langley explained you couldn’t replace just one because they need to be a matching pair – is £400 to £500.

That’s a lot of money to find for a club who have built a new clubhouse over the past few months.

But just when the club were at their lowest ebb, they received the best possible pick-me-up.

Kevin Langley takes up the story.

“A lady saw the social media post,” he said. “She got in touch and said her father used to play cricket for Bourton and how he loved playing there.

“She said she’d like to donate £100 to help us replace the sightscreens.”

And that’s not all.

“Somebody else then came forward and said they wanted to give us £400,” Langley continued.

“He told us he loves cricket, hates vandalism and said he could afford it.

“It was amazing. We felt as low as you possibly could get and now we get these two acts of kindness – it’s so heart-warming.”

And Langley invited the lady who made the £100 donation down to the club for a cup of tea on Saturday afternoon, during Bourton 2nds’ game with Hatherley and Reddings 3rds.

He added that the club hoped to have new sightscreens within the next two or three weeks.