GENEROUS companies and individuals in the town have come up trumps after a plea from a youngsters' football club whose base was destroyed by arson.

Alcester Athletic Football Club had already abandoned the hut which formerly served as its base after repeated incidents of vandalism and was going to have it removed free of charge.

But after the base was gutted by fire, organisers had to dip into their own pockets to find the thousands of pounds needed to have the dangerous building safely removed from its site next to Alcester Trades and Labour Club.

Fears grew the club, which has hundreds of town youngsters as members, would have to close because it did not have enough funds after counting the cost of the fire.

But after an appeal in the Alcester Chronicle last month, several organisations and individuals have come forward with support.