A nine-year-old girl alerted cricket club volunteers to a fire on the edge of the ground – leading to a match having to be halted in the latest in a string of attacks.
Children and spectators were moved away from the scene at Stockport Cricket Club, which borders Cale Green Park in Greater Manchester.
No-one was injured in the 18 July fire and the match resumed about 45 minutes later, the club said – but club officials said it was the latest in a series of fires, trespassing and vandalism.
Greater Manchester Police said it had looked into several reports connected to the club while Stockport Council said it was working with the club and other groups to keep the area safe.
Bar manager and licensee Rebecca Evans said her nine-year-old daughter, who plays junior cricket, ran inside to alert her while she was serving customers.
“I went out and it was just a fire,” she said.
“I started walking towards it while I was phoning 999 and it was just getting bigger and bigger.”