Emergency services have been dealing with a fire at the Camrose football ground tonight - again.

It is the second time in the space of a month that the fire service has been called to an incident at the site, which lies empty after Basingstoke Town Community Football Club was evicted in 2019.

One resident, who lives close to the scene and asked to remain unnamed, said they believed it was "another arson attack" and had to call 999 just before 6pm tonight. 

They told The Gazette: "Kids have set fire to the training courts next to the football ground tonight, I had to call 999 engine’s arrived had to put out the fire having to pull up on Winchester road.

"It's not ideal, the fire servce have a lot of better things to be doing.

"The football ground is becoming a issue and a target. This needs to stop somehow." 

A photograph obtained by The Gazette shows thick plumes of smoke rising from the Winchester Road ground earlier this evening. 

Hampshire Fire & Rescue has been contacted for comment. 

Last month, firefighters were called to the Camrose football stadium on Wednesday, June 2, after thugs set fire to the seating area. 

At the tme, Basingstoke's on-call firefighter team took to Twitter to urge vandals against setting deliberate fires, saying they "tie up resources".  

A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue spokesperson told the Gazette that police were informed and attended the incident, as accelerant had been used to start the blaze.

Police launched an appeal to find a group wanted in relation with the fire. 

Speaking at the time, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: "The fire was a small fire on one of the seats, and it's cause was doubtful.

"Officers detained four men, aged between 18 and 21-years-old, for a search under Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

"The search was negative and the men were released."