residents living near a village cricket team's ground are being urged to act as its eyes and ears in a bid to stop petty criminals and vandals targeting the club.

Rod Braithwaite, the chairman of Avoncroft Cricket Club, is calling on Stoke Heath residents to help as he says police have designated the club premises a "crime hot spot."

Rod, from Droitwich Spa, said that despite making the premises like "a fortress," during the past 15 years there have been more than 50 break-ins.

During the last ten days alone there have been five burglaries.

On one occasion officials found the club's two mowers had been attacked leaving them with a £120 repair bill.

Rod said the problem is not so much theft, as there is little on the premises to steal, but wanton damage and it is starting to cast a doubt on the club's long term future.

"Since insurance is now becoming so expensive the club is meeting most of the repair cost itself," he said. "But there is a limit to what we can afford.

"We offer a community service to many local people including over 50 youth members but our existence is being seriously threatened by this continuous series of attacks.

"Police have designated us a crime hot spot."

He added there is evidence that the area is used as a drinking den by the amount of broken glass lying about.

In a message aimed directly at residents, especially those who use the pitch as a public recreation ground, he said: "I appeal to residents to contact the police when they see anything suspicious.

"Like all good cricketers we never want to be beaten, however, we really wonder if residents want to help us or whether they are indifferent to our future. I urge them to show us," he added.