A CAR found torched on land in Whitchurch has been linked to a burglary in the town.

On Friday morning an abandoned blue Volkswagen Golf was set on fire after being abandoned behind some bushes on land owned by Whitchurch Rugby Club.

West Mercia Police said that the car is being linked to an incident on Yardington on August 20, where tools were stolen from an address.

The chairman of Whitchurch Rugby Club has expressed his surprise at the incident, describing the torching of the car on rugby club land as “very unusual” for Whitchurch.

The car was set alight at around 10am on Friday morning, with firefighters from Whitchurch and Prees quickly responding, having already dealt with an incident in Whitchurch High Street.

But for the rugby club chairman John Oakden, the fire came as quite a surprise.

“The car was left there. I understand it was used in a burglary,” said John.

“It’s definitely been stolen.

“It was left in the car park on Thursday then Friday morning moved.

“I don’t know if the police got there and came back, but I had a phone call saying there’s a car on fire.

“I rushed down and arrived just as the fire brigade were leaving.

“It is a nuisance. We are wide open, the club’s land is open for people to come onto.

“We can’t stop people going on, but we have more problems with dogs running on the pitch than anything.

“I’ve been involved with the club for 30-odd years now, but this is the first time anything like this has happened. It’s very unusual for Whitchurch.

“It’s never happened before and it might never happen again.

“It’s just a dangerous thing to do really.

“With the petrol there is a chance the car could have gone bang.

“The police have been down there, they seem to think it’s been used in a burglary.

“They said the registration had been changed using tape.

“The club house is well protected by CCTV, but it doesn’t reach where the car is.”

Meanwhile, on Friday, West Mercia Police confirmed that they were looking into the matter, saying that enquires were ongoing.