FOOTBALL club members have been left devastated after their pavilion was burnt to the ground.

Suspected arsonists are believed to have started the blaze at Ashley Green Football Club late on Monday night. The pavilion had only recently been refurbished and could cost up to £70,00 to rebuild.

Club chairman Chris Morris, 38, who witnessed the blaze, was heartbroken to see ten years' work go up in smoke.

Mr Morris said: "I just watched it all go up in flames. It has been a devastating blow. I was thinking about stepping down as chairman after building it up, and now this has happened."

Both adult and junior teams, including Chesham United Juniors, play at the club. Mr Morris said: "There will be a large number of children who will be very upset. It is quite a mess."

The pavilion included changing rooms, shower cubicles, toilets, a kitchen and a physiotherapy area. Goal nets and a line making machine were also destroyed.

The club said it had suffered previous attacks and there had been two other fires in the area in a week which are being linked to the latest incident.

Mr Morris added: "We had four games booked up for this Sunday, we were already behind in the fixtures."

Rob Freeman, a committee member of the club said: "Over the past 18 months we have had six break-ins and a number of thefts. The problem is that it is a remote place but on a main road, so it is vulnerable."

A spokesman for Chesham United Football Club, said: "It's a kick in the teeth for the kids. We will have to sort out more facilities for them."

Mr Morris said that the club was now looking for local businesses to sponsor them for the future.

Ian Aldridge, sub-officer at Amersham Fire Station, said: "As far as we know it is arson. We weren't only investigating that. There was also a car fire.

"There had been a fire in a bin last Thursday so we are linking the two. The police have been informed."

Police are appealing for anyone with information on the incident to come forward. Call PC Steve Wellford on (01494) 465888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.