Arsonists are suspected of starting a fire which wiped out a sports pavilion in Enfield Lock.

Twenty firefighters from Enfield, Edmonton and Chingford rushed to the scene at Soham Road Recreation Ground at 8.15pm on Monday night, after a blaze broke out.

It was brought under control within an hour.

Dozens of residents flocked to the fields to watch as flames devoured the hut, which included two changing rooms and a kitchen area. Sheila Stacey, of Newbury Avenue, said: "It was certainly a shock one minute there was nothing and then there was this huge fire.

"It was raging. When we walked back to our house, through the park we couldn't see for the smoke."

"In the past the clubhouse has been vandalised, and broken bit by bit. It is a shame but kids seem to have nothing better to do."

The pavilion is used most weeks during the football season by youth football teams.

Peter Ticehurst is chairman of Enfield Rangers, which has a base in Carterhatch Lane, Enfield.

He told the Independent his team's clubhouse was targeted by arsonists in October 2004.

He said: "It's crazy, and seems to be the way all football fields are going. Perhaps it's being done by kids who don't like sport.

"All these clubs are run by volunteers, but they are being spoilt by other kids who have got parents that don't seem to care."

Police are treating the blaze as an arson, and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Contact DS Nick Miller of Edmonton CID on 8345 4473 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.