FERNHURST Cricket Club is counting the cost of malicious vandalism after a powerful weedkiller was used to burn obscenities into the grass at Fernhurst cricket ground, two weeks before the start of the season.

It is the first act of vandalism the cricket club has suffered in its 113 year history.

Obscene words and images were etched across 13 of the pitch's 15 wickets, when the culprits sprayed the weedkiller on to the ground, causing an estimated £300 worth of damage.

The offensive sight was first discovered by the groundsman and chairman of the Fernhurst recreation ground management committee, John Allen, last Friday morning.

But it took until Sunday for the full extent of the vandalism to become apparent as the damage become progressively worse.

"The damage is very extensive, serious and malicious," he said. "I think it must have been done on Wednesday night, because the burned grass had turned brown by the time I saw it."

To add insult to injury, the burning comes just two weeks before the start of the new cricket season.

With two I'Anson teams, one in division one and another in the third division, Mr Allen said: "The club's first game in the I'Anson cup is on Saturday, April 27,"

Groundsmen have begun watering the affected areas but Mr Allen said that it was a case of having to wait and see what would grow back.

"Some of the worst patches won't grow back until halfway through the season," he said and added that it could be late in the season before the grass is back to normal.

He said that repairing the area with grass seed and loam could cost £300.

But Mr Allen was confident the cricket club would beat the vandals and play would not be affected

"Ten of the 15 wickets affected are league wickets, but we have got enough wickets to keep us going," he said.

He said the outside wickets could still be used for friendly games.

Speculating on who might have done such a thing, Mr Allen said he had no idea.

"I don't know of anyone who might have had a grudge against the club," he said. "But it was obviously premeditated; they came with the intention of doing it."

One clue was left behind, however, as the culprit got some of the weedkiller on their shoes, leaving a set of footprints behind.

West Sussex police are currently investigating the incident, and have issued a warning to other clubs in the area to be on their guard against similar attacks of vandalism.