Blaze pledge to Highley Rugby Club

North Midlands Rugby Football Union has pledged to do all it can to help a Shropshire village club which lost almost £4,000 worth of kit and equipment in a suspected arson attack.

The fire ripped through the changing rooms of Highley Rugby Club on Wednesday, destroying equipment as well as taking out the electricity supply, putting floodlights out of use.

Players now face the task of rebuilding the club's headquarters in Netherton Lane and replacing the equipment

They have made an appeal for help with replacement equipment from other clubs and Steve Guy, president of North Midlands RFU, said today he had already made contact with club officials.

"We have promised to use our expertise and contacts to help Highley in any way that we can," he said. "This is obviously a devastating blow to them but we hope the rugby family in Shropshire and North Midlands will rally round to help Highley in their hour of need."

A man has been charged with arson after the fire, which caused about £10,000 damage at the club.

The 29-year-old was due to appear at Telford Magistrates Court today.

Anyone able to help can e-mail chairman Don Goulden at [email protected], secretary Rob Parr at [email protected] or fixture secretary Leon Aspin at highleyrfc.co.uk