The culprits snuck into Bungay Cricket Club and used weedkiller to damage the ground with just over a month before the new season is due to start.

Club officials at the Maltings Meadow in Ditchingham, to the north of Bunday, said they had to resow the entire square at considerable cost to the club.

Now police have dropped their search for the vandals.

Bungay Cricket Club is a family-friendly, sociable and progressive community club on the Norfolk/Suffolk border (Image: Bungay Cricket Club)

A Norfolk Constabulary spokeswoman said: "All lines of enquiry have been exhausted and the case has been closed.

"Of course, we would always review any new information provided to us."

Officials at the club estimated work to restore the ground will cost upwards of £2,000 at a time when resources are already stretched thin.

The wanton vandalism meant the club had to divert funds away from developing its youth and women's programme as three new teams are set to play this season - a women's hardball team, an under-9 team and an under-17 team.

The Bungay & District Sports Association is home to the town's cricket, football, and tennis club (Image: Bungay & District Sports Association)

After the club was vandalised, it reported the incident to the police, who were reviewing available CCTV footage to try and identify the culprits.

The incident was believed to have taken place at the end of December and in January when a substance, thought to be weedkiller, was poured onto the sports field.

It was reported to Norfolk police on February 13.

Jim Howlett, the club's chairman, had said: "It's a hugely challenging environment for cricket clubs like Bungay, but we are resolute that we will repair the square so that we are ready to host competitions as soon as we can."

While Norfolk Police have now closed the case, Bungay Cricket Club encourages anyone with further information about the case to call Norfolk Police on 101.

© Eastern Daily Press