The fire which destroyed the roof of the cricket club in Claygate was sparked after a security light was "forcibly removed" from the wall, resulting in an electrical fire.

The Surrey Fire and Rescue investigation into the cause of the blaze on November 7 concluded that it had been started by a short circuit 'arc' when the security light outside the clubhouse was forced from its position and the cables supplying it were severed.

Investigators had thought it was started by a fire in or around one of the refuse bins locked behind the club, but it was clear it had started at a higher level.

Damian Ross, a spokesman for the Claygate Recreation Ground Trust, said: "Trustees confirmed that the area at the back of the pavilion had regularly been used by youths as access to the roof, despite the locked gate, anti-climb paint, and warning signs.

"This background fitted with the investigators' thoughts on how the fire might have started.

"Over the past month there have been a number of incidences of vandalism at the ground which were reported to the police and the community police officer.

"On October 18 a number of youths were seen on the roof of the pavilion and were told by a local resident to get down."

Mr Ross added that although the trophies won by the cricket club and the Claygate Royals Football Club were salvaged, "sadly little else is left".

Helen Maguire, chairman of the trust, said the news was "devastating".

She said: "The clubhouse was opened in 2012 after a major fundraising campaign involving the Cricket Club, Claygate Royals Football Club, the local Claygate community and Elmbridge Borough Council.

"We’ve been incredibly proud of our new facility. With a cafe operating in the building throughout the week it has become a focal point for village life. Now this has happened and it’s hard to believe how much damage has been brought about in those few short hours.

"There will be a huge amount of work ahead of us and we will need the community to work together again to help us rebuild."

Plans to rebuild the clubhouse are expected to be "even better than before", according to Mr Ross, but that the cafe would no longer be in operation and there would be no permanent changing or showering rooms for visiting teams.

Ms Maguire said: "There is no doubt that the community clubhouse is right at the heart of our community. And there is no doubt that it will rise again."