TWO members of staff have been charged with arson and burglary following a fire that caused extensive smoke damage at the May's Bounty cricket ground pavilion.

Chefs David Bennett, 28, of Selby Walk, Popley, Basingstoke, and Gavin Bennett, 27, of St Lukes Close, South Ham, Basingstoke, have both been charged with arson and burglary following a blaze at the home of Basingstoke and North Hampshire Cricket Club.

The pair, who are brothers, have been bailed to appear before Basingstoke magistrates on Friday, January 30.

Firefighters were called to a blaze at the 100-year-old clubhouse, in Fairfields Road, Basingstoke, in the early hours of Monday after being alerted by police, who attended the scene when security alarms went off.

The damage to the facility is still being assessed. However, club officials believe the entire ceiling will have to be replaced and the clubhouse will be closed for two weeks.

Paintings and rolls of honour have been damaged by smoke. Fortunately, the club's collection of trophies was protected by a glass cabinet. The upstairs changing rooms also avoided serious damage.

Firefighters said the damage could have been worse if the blaze, which started in a cloakroom, had engulfed the bar, which contained stocks of alcohol and pressurised containers.

Steve Rayner, the club chairman, said: "The club has been blackened by soot and the ceiling will have to be replaced.

"The damage will affect the snooker section and the darts section, and the hockey club won't be able to use the facilities. An umpires course, which should have started this week, has also been affected."

Before the fire engines arrived, steward Don Burton, who was also alerted by the alarms, tried to tackle the fire with water and an extinguisher.

Leading firefighter Phil Hoban attended the blaze and said that a thermal image camera was used to locate the position of the fire.