Damage caused to a London Colney rugby club’s outdoor seating area will not prevent it from going “onwards and upwards” this season, its chairman has declared.

Vandals wreaked havoc at Verulamiam RFC’s grounds opposite garden centre Aylett Nurseries on the A414, when they caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the club’s new spectator seating area earlier this month.

Players had only just celebrated the grand reopening of their refurbished clubhouse in October last year.

More renovation to the outdoor patio had recently been underway with the new furniture only delivered weeks ago.

Chairman Ian Graham said: “We are doing the whole club up for the community because we have a number of lads from nearby play and a number of functions held here so we are a big part of the community.

“It is a bit annoying as the furniture had only just arrived and was intended to be a permanent part of the outside area but there is no way for us to fix it down or prevent the same thing from happening again in the future.

“We don’t have the resources for there to always be someone there to keep an eye on it, like a pub would do for example.

“But it’s onwards and upwards and we won’t let this hold us back.”

Despite the setback, the club still plans to install new pitch drainage and further clubhouse renovation to coincide with this year’s World Cup.

A key part of this will be a NatWest-funded RugbyForce weekend, with volunteers carrying out repair and decoration work over June 27-28.

Chariots mini and junior chairwoman, Angela Clifford, said: “We’re not going to let the actions of a few mindless idiots spoil a terrific season for the club.

“We have a record number of participants, huge success in cup and league competitions and a busy programme of social events in World Cup year.”

A spokesman for Herts Police confirmed officers were investigating the alleged vandalism.

Anyone with information is asked to call non-emergency number 101.