A Bovingdon golf club has reopened to the public after its clubhouse was destroyed by fire.

Fire broke out at Little Hay Golf Club, in Box Lane, in April last year, as flames from a chip pan blaze in the kitchen spread through an air extraction unit into the roof.

Although more than 70 of the county’s firefighters fought to battle the blaze, the clubhouse could not be saved from collapse.

But thanks to Sportspace, a not-for-profit organisation set up to run sports facilities in Dacorum borough, and an investment of about £300,000, the clubhouse is back to its former glory.

George Reid, complex manager, said: “The clubhouse is back and it’s better than ever.

“The fire left us devastated. When we found out about the level of damage, it was awful - we didn’t know where to go from there.

“At first we were using portable cabins on site while the clubhouse was out of action. We still had this lovely course, but nowhere to operate from.

“But thanks to the hard work of our staff and Sportspace, we’ve a new state-of-the-art clubhouse.

“We’re back in business and here to serve the community – we’ve risen from the ashes.”

Despite an initial estimation that the clubhouse would take up to two years to rebuild, work was underway in March this year, with doors opening to the public about a week ago.