A SPORTS club fears vandals may be behind a blaze that bruned a hole in the roof of its clubhouse and caused thousands of pounds of damage.

A kerosene oil tank on the roof the building on Test playing fields in Millbrook, home of Southampton Rugby Club, caught fire on Saturday night.

The heat burned a four-metre square hole in the roof, although the oil did no go up in flames.

Southampton Sports Club secretary Tim Riley said he suspected debris pushed down a flue from the roof had caught fire when the boiler came on.

"It could have been started deliberately.

"We are quite isolated and vulnerable.

"We do get problems with vandalism and kids hanging on the roof."

Mr Riley said rugby games and functions would carry on as normal although "showers would be cold for a while" until repairs to the roof were carried out and the oil tank re-cladded.

He said it was likely to cost about £15,000.

About 20 firefighters from Redbridge Hill, St Mary's and Totton fire stations were sent to tackle the blaze at 10pm on Saturday. They wore nine sets of breathing apparatus to bring the fire under control then secure the roof.