TONG Park Esholt Cricket Club are facing a bill of more than £150,000 after Storm Eva wreaked havoc with their main ground in Esholt.

One club member surveying the scene said: "It looks like we have been hit by a tsunami."

It was an apt description of the nightmare scene after the River Aire burst its banks, sweeping caravans from the adjacent field onto the cricket ground.

There was still three feet of water standing on the pitch today, and officials still haven't been able to assess the damage to the wicket that is likely to have been caused by the caravans which cannot be removed because of the saturated state of the ground.

David Young, treasurer of the Aire-Wharfe League club, said: "It is a scene of utter devastation and we estimate it will cost at least £150,000 to repair.

"We are insured and we will be applying to the Yorkshire Cricket Board and Sport England for emergency funding, but that takes time to come through.

"We need help now because this is horrendous. It is hard to comprehend the scale of the damage. Until we can get to see the state of the pitch we don't even know if we will be able to play there this season. That could have massive implications for the future of the club."

Officials from Bradford Council and insurance loss adjusters have visited the ground and Young added: "We had a dry stone wall expert come and repair our boundary walls after seeing news of our problems, and one of our former players, who is a gas engineer, has offered to assist. Help like that is invaluable, but the scale of what has happened means there is so much more that needs to be done.

"The club members have been tremendous, but they are volunteers and many of the jobs that have to be done will require professional assistance."

The trail of damage includes:

Changing rooms flooded to a depth of five feet which will need gutting and renewing.

The club steward's flat will require a total refit.

The umpires' changing room will require a refit.

Boilers destroyed will require replacing.

Practice nets destroyed completely and need replacing.

Covers badly damaged.

Sight screens badly damaged.

Electronic scoreboard damaged and may need replacing.

Equipment shed flooded to depth of five feet with all ground maintenance equipment requiring replacement or extensive repair.

Outfield and wicket damaged by caravans being dragged across by force of water.

Boundary fencing and seating destroyed.

All junior kit ruined.

Bowling machine destroyed.

Netting to protect football pitch and caravan park destroyed.

Beer dispensing equipment destroyed.

The club also has a football pitch which it rents out to Shipley Town and Saltaire Rangers. The goal posts and nets were torn apart by the flood.

Young added: "This isn't something requiring a short-term fix. This is going to take a long time and a lot of money to put right."

Aire-Wharfe League secretary Dave Alred said: "This is a disheartening situation for Tong Park/Esholt. I have spoken to their club officials and we will provide any support and help we can."