Negotiations are under way to pump new life into a cricket club which was razed to the ground last year.

Members of the Bowling Old Lane Cricket Club in West Bowling have met with local councillors to find a solution to replace their cricket pavilion which was gutted by a suspected arson attack in April.

The two-storey structure, which contained changing rooms and tea rooms, was destroyed just days after youths threatened to carry out a bomb attack. Members of the Bradford League club have since been left without facilities.

Club chairman Michael Hope said the meeting had been fruitful.

He said: "We've set up a working party to liaise with the Council. We're hoping to get a temporary building set up for the umpires and a tea room." Members will be looking at steps to integrate the club into the community to prevent further attacks.

Mr Hope said: "It's not all about finance. We've had so much damage over the past year as kids keep knocking walls down. The wall in New Cross Street is now demolished - as soon as we put it up it's down again."

Former members of the club include England and Yorkshire bowler Darren Gough, former England batsman Bill Athey and retired Yorkshire cricket coach Doug Padgett.

A recreation spokesman for Bradford Council said it had maintained close links with the club over a number of years and that it was eager to see its continuing success.

"The club has told us it needs suitable changing facilities at the ground to qualify for this season's Bradford Cricket League and we are hoping to supply them with a portable building in the near future," he said.

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