Radstock Town Football Club has been left devastated after discovering a fire had been started in the stands in the early hours of Tuesday (June 18).

The fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately, was spotted by egaled-eyed neighbours living opposite the grounds who called emergency services immediately.

Half of the seats from the home team’s dugout have been destroyed and superficial damage was caused to the grandstand. A traffic cone and debris were left at the stand.

Avon and Somerset Police are following up lines of enquiry and confirmed high-visibility patrols will be conducted over coming days.

Club groundskeeper Ian Phippen, who lives near the club, said: “At around 2am I woke up to loud voices and a lot of banging going on. Then around 3-3.30am the lights came on and the fire brigade turned up.

“Luckily, someone phoned it in when they did because if it had gone on any longer the whole lot would’ve gone up like a tinderbox.

“The biggest worry of course is that those resposnible could return and cause more damage.”

Simon Wilkinson, the club’s chairman, said the emergency services “arrived at just the right time” and went on to explain how the damage could have been much worse.

He said: “The stand would’ve gone, the trees surrounding would’ve caught fire, we’d have lost the top two floodlights, possibly part of the fence and potentially the clubhouse as well. It would’ve been absolute carnage.

“It just doesn’t bare thinking about what could’ve happened.”

Police attended the scene along with crews from Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

Avon and Somerset Police issued the following statement: “Police were called to support fire crews attending Radstock Town Football Club in Southfield at about 3am on Tuesday, June 18.

“Plastic seating and rubbish had been set on fire. Thankfully it was quickly put out by fire crews. Initial enquiries established that four or five young people were seen leaving the area.

“The local neighbourhood team is planning to conduct high-visibility patrols in the coming days.”

Radstock Town Football Club hopes to erect more fencing around the perimeter of the grounds to prevent future incidents.

Police enquiries are continuing and anyone with any information is asked to call 101 and give the reference 5224156841.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 percent anonymously by calling 0800 555 111, or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information