BOWLS players have worked tirelessly for two months to restore their flood-damaged clubhouse in time for the new season.

The West Oxford Bowls Clubhouse suffered extensive damage in the floods in March and members have been working ever since to get it back into use.

They feared it would cost at least £2,000 to repair the Botley Park clubhouse and could not claim insurance.

But a grant from Sports England and help from Headington Bowls Club meant they could afford the work.

Bowls club chairman David Carter said: “We’ve put in a new roof, done the ceilings and we’ve repaired the floors.

“They’ve been working constantly. All of the club members have been down there and cleaned the black mould off the walls. They’ve been painting and cleaning. They have put a lot of hard work in.

“It has put us in good stead for the next season. I’m very pleased.”

The clubhouse has been damaged by flooding more than five times and after this year’s floods, members found there was 15 inches of water in the building.

A team of retired volunteers have worked more than 12 hours each week to carry out the repairs.

Work was finished on Tuesday, just in time for the team to enjoy a touring match against the Orient Express Hotels team.

Lifetime member of the club, Pete Moffat, 82, said: “The most damage was not only from the standing water but with the time the water was in the building.

“There was so much damage it brought the kitchen ceiling down.”

The retired builder praised the support from Homebase in Botley, who donated paint and materials to repair the clubhouse. Wickes helped the club by donating materials for the floors, while Kennington Flooring also supported the team with their renovation project.

Mr Moffat added: “We’ve had a good number of private donations too. We finished the renovations as near as it can be.

“There’s always little jobs to do but the majority of the jobs are all finished.

“I’m very pleased with it. We’ve got all summer to look forward to it and we’ve just about got it looking nice for some visitors.’’ The clubhouse was previously a condemned cricket pavilion in Cutteslowe Park.