ARSONISTS are believed to have destroyed Halesowen Cricket Club’s bonfire in the early hours of today - ahead of Friday's annual Guy Fawkes celebrations.

Club officials have made an urgently appeal for donations of wooden pallets and non-garden wood and have vowed the event will still go ahead.

It had taken several months to collect the wood for the bonfire at the Dogkennel Lane ground, which is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Club spokesman Joe Tromans said: “We’ve already had terrific response from the local community through appeals on social media sites and are determined to press ahead.”

He added: “The bonfire was made up of a whole series of pallets because it had to have a structure inside so it burns well.

"We don't know exactly who burnt it down or why but people can rest assured that the event will go ahead as planned and we have already had a good response on Facebook for donations of wood.”

He said the event raises a few thousand pounds each year and the club would “struggle to survive” without it.

The replacement bonfire will not be built until Friday morning and extra security measures have been put in place on site to prevent repeat attacks. It will be lit at 5.30pm with firework displays at 6.30pm and 8.00pm.

Anyone who can help with donations of wood should contact the club on 0121 550 2744.