THE chairman of a cricket club that was flooded just a week ago said the ‘last thing’ he needed to deal with was a burglary.

Mike Rayson of Carlisle Cricket Club was fearing the worst for his club when water levels continued to rise on Sunday.

The previous weekend Storm Ciara had flooded the pavilion, requiring a large clean-up operation by volunteers.

As Mr Rayson was worrying about history repeating itself on Sunday morning, he noticed one of the club’s outbuildings had been broken into.

Currently unused, the building is set to be removed in three months when the next phase of the Roman dig takes place.

“Everything in there is worthless,” explained Mr Rayson.

“It is the old tennis club behind us, it is not nice. We were burgled three times five years ago after the floods, so for it to happen again, it’s not nice.

“It is our building, used by somebody we let use it as a storage facility.

“It’s coming down in three months for the next stage of the Roman dig, but it was the last thing we needed.”

Mr Rayson said he had watched the River Eden come within 20cm of bursting its banks again on Sunday.

“It is not worth going to prison or potentially going to prison, or getting a criminal record, there’s nothing in that building.

“It’s coming down in three months anyway, it’s not worth the risk.

“The facility has been targeted four times in the last six weeks, but there is nothing in it.”

Standing water on the Carlisle Cricket Club’s field still resembles something similar to a lake, with water still knee-high.

Volunteers were drafted in to help move furniture and clean up in the aftermath of Storm Ciara the weekend before last.

Meanwhile, the club is still waiting for a number of fish to be rescued that have been stranded in the water at the club.

Police believe those responsible for the break-in entered the building by damaging a window shortly after 8am on Sunday.

Officers say a number of men or youths were seen leaving through the window at about 8.15am and heading in the direction of Etterby Street. All the suspects are described as wearing all-dark clothing, with one of them believed to have been wearing a yellow jacket.

Cumbria Constabulary has since arrested a 14-year-old on suspicion of burglary, who has been released under investigation.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101.

Alternatively they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting log number 76 of February 16.

Or witnesses can contact 101@cumbria.police.uk.