Wisbech’s Sunday second team’s final game of the season had to be delayed because the pavilion was on fire.

The players arrived at Harecroft Road at noon to discover smoke coming from the rear of the building, which had filled the ladies changing room.

The fire brigade was called, who had to remove part of the toilet wall to stop the fire, which may have been caused by a discarded cigarette, spreading further.

Wisbech chairman Bob Burgess said: “The players arrived at mid day to find smoke coming from an area of the timber cladding at the rear of the building.

“Smoke filled the ladies changing room, the fire brigade was called.

“They attended, extinguished the fire and located the source. A discarded cigarette seems to have been the cause. “Unfortunately the wall to the toilet had to be removed in order to prevent the fire from spreading further within the wall cavity.”

A Cambs Fire spokesman said: “At 12.30pm on Sunday one crew from Wisbech was called to a fire on Harecroft Road in Wisbech. Firefighters arrived to find a fire in a pavilion.

“Wearing breathing apparatus they extinguished it using a hose reel and cleared the smoke using a positive pressure ventilation fan.

“The crews returned to their station by 1.45pm. The cause of the fire was accidental.”

When the match did eventually get underway, Wisbech bowled Laxton Park out for 141, which they chased down with four wickets in hand.

The win secured Wisbech’s promotion from Rutland League Division 5.