Cricket pavilion gutted by fire

Investigations are under way into the cause of the fire

A cricket pavilion in Derbyshire has been gutted in a fire which is being treated as suspicious.

Firefighters were called out to the blaze at the building in Darley Abbey Park in Derby in the early hours of Monday morning.

The damage caused was extensive and the cricket club was holding an emergency meeting to consider what to do.

Fire investigators have been at the scene trying to establish the cause of the blaze.

Club secretary, Dave Jepson, said: "It's a scene of utter devastation, I'm afraid. The whole of the front of the pavilion where the balcony is and where the players and the spectators used to sit has been completely destroyed.

"The roof is completely caved in as well, it's a scene of carnage really. The front of the building is all blackened obviously by the smoke damage as well, the building is a write-off."

Dave Coss from Derbyshire Fire Service added: "The fire is being treated as suspicious at this time. Further investigations are going to carry on.

"And it's probably going to take us two or three days to get a final cause, but we are treating it as suspicious at this time."