The furniture was hauled into Gosport Borough Cricket Club's new building at the weekend.

Thirty players and sponsors flocked to the club on Saturday morning to get the building ship-shape for the new season.

As a reward for their hard work, they enjoyed a first drink at the new bar.

The £389,000 pavilion has been a long time in coming after the old building was damaged in an arson attack, forcing the club to move to temporary huts.

Now the players are just weeks away from using the clubhouse at Privett Park for the first home match of the new season.

Director of cricket Pete Robson said: 'It was a great day. We had quite a few club members down and we managed to get things done before the heavens opened.

'We are certainly ready to start the new season and it will be great to use the clubhouse for the first time.'

The building has been paid for with grants from Gosport Borough Council and insurance money after the last building was damaged beyond repair in an arson attack in 2005.

The club has about 60 adult and 50 junior members who are raring to get going in May.

Saturday's event was part of the England and Wales Cricket Board's drive for clubs across the country to spend a day getting their pavilions and grounds ready.