A CRICKET club near Darlington has become the latest sports club to be targeted by thieves after it was broken into earlier this week.

Rockliffe Park Cricket Club in Hurworth, near Darlington, was burgled sometime between Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday morning, with the rear window of its pavilion smashed in .

The club’s pavilion, scorebox and sheds belonging to the groundsman were broken into between 6pm on Monday night and 7am the following morning.

Club officials confirmed”several items” had been stolen, including two strimmers, fertiliser and the contents of a tuck shop, as well as £70 from the till.

The burglary follows break ins at Barnard Castle’s cricket club and rugby club - which happened overnight on September 12.

Police confirmed a leaf blower had been taken from a storage shed at Barnard Castle Cricket Club, while thieves broke into the main building at Barnard Castle Rugby Club and stole an empty till.

It is understood the thieves also got away with charity boxes, although police could not confirm this.

Steve Gill, secretary at Rockliffe Park Cricket Club, said: “I think the main point is making all local sports clubs aware of the security needed at their grounds.

“We are now the third victim in two weeks, with Barnard Castle Cricket Club and Barnard Castle Rugby Club having similar break ins in the last two weeks and Sedgefield Cricket Club earlier in the season.”

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “We responded to reports of a burglary at Rockliffe Park Cricket Club, in Hurworth, which took place overnight between Monday, September 18 and Tuesday, September 19.

“The suspects used a car to access the cricket club and broke into the groundsman’s sheds before taking six bags of premium fertiliser and two strimmers.

“They then broke into the pavilion by smashing a rear window and stole the entire contents of the tuck shop, as well as a float and till containing £70.

The spokesperson added: “Anyone with any information on the burglary is asked to contact Durham Police on 101 and ask for PC Paula Ruck, quoting incident number 47 of September 19.”