Arson at Maesteg Rugby Club

Maesteg Rugby Club has been told that the damage caused by a fire on Tuesday could cost up to £500,000 to repair. The figure was quoted by an independent loss assessor.

The club's insurance company has visited the ground and will do so again, before giving a further estimate of the cost of the damage.

The blaze, which started at around 5pm on Tuesday, destroyed part of the clubhouse and part of a stand at one of Wales' oldest rugby clubs.

A joint investigation by the police and fire service has established it was started deliberately.

South Wales Police is appealing for help to identify a group of youths seen at the ground on Tuesday afternoon.

Detectives have launched an arson inquiry after fire ripped through part of one of the oldest rugby clubs in Wales. Priceless sporting heirlooms, some dating back more than a hundred years are feared lost at Maesteg Rugby Club. Tom Shedrick reports on the investigation and the long clear up.

Police say two youths, aged 13-14 who were riding bikes, were seen to climb over a gate of Maesteg Rugby Club near the Tesco car park at around 4.30pm last night.

Detectives say one was wearing a green hooded top and the other was wearing a dark grey one and black jogging bottoms.

There was another group of up to 15 youths aged around 14 years inside the ground at this time.

The fire broke out at around 5pm in an area of clubhouse and engulfed a large part of the building and the adjoining stand.

South Wales Police are appealing to anyone with information about the arson attack or who saw anyone within the rugby ground in Llynfi Road on Tuesday to come forward.

Police are appealing for information following the blaze at Maesteg Rugby Club yesterday evening.

Detective Constable Lee Duke said, “We are treating this as arson and want to hear from anyone who may have information or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in or near the rugby ground."

The fire broke out in the clubhouse and engulfed a large part of the building and the adjoining stand.

A joint police and fire service examination of the scene confirmed the fire was started deliberately.

Police are appealing to anyone with information or who saw anyone within the rugby ground in Llynfi Road on Tuesday to come forward.

“Maesteg Rugby Club is an important part of the local community and the considerable damage to the club will be felt by many people” added DC Duke.

Members of Maesteg Rugby Club told ITV News that they are optimistic about the extent of the damage in the clubhouse and a stand.

They say there is smoke damage in the main room but the bar area has been gutted. Insurance assessors are at the club today.

South Wales Fire Station Manager Peter Howard Jones told ITV News investigations so far into the cause of the fire at Maesteg Rugby Club points towards a deliberate ignition.

Maesteg Club chairman David Morgan told ITV News he was devastated by the fire.

The flames caused damage to the first floor of the clubhouse which had recently been refurbished.

A viewer's video of the fire that broke out in Maesteg Rugby Club earlier this evening.

South Wales Fire Service say a fire which broke out at Maesteg Rugby Club this evening was started deliberately.

Fire crews arrived at the scene around 5pm this evening and were there for around three hours.

Officials are now working to find out who was responsible for starting the blaze.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service says a stand of the ground at Maesteg Rugby Club is on fire, as well as the clubhouse.

The first fire engine arrived at 5.10pm, and crews have now been fighting the fire for around an hour and a half.

Craig Yates from Only Men Aloud is one of dozens of people who have taken to Twitter to express their sadness.

The club's website says it was founded in 1877.