The contaminated soil will have to be replaced due to the fire

The borough council said this week that damage from the fire set at Kingsthorpe Recreation Ground on Saturday totals £2,000.

The fire started when several gallons of diesel that had been dispersed around the bowling green and set on fire.

Councillor Judith Lill, cabinet member with responsibility for the environment and leisure, said, "This is an awful act of vandalism which has put out of use a well loved amenity.

"We will be working to put the bowling green back into action but this is a cost that the council could well do without."

Due to the extent of the vandalism, she said, the green will be out of use for the rest of the season.

The area will have to be returfed to remove all the contaminated soil.