THIEVES made off with crucial groundskeeping equipment from Barry Athletic Cricket Club during an overnight break in.

Sometime between 8pm on Sunday, April 27 and 1pm on Monday, April 28 the groundman's storage shed at the team's Paget Road ground on Barry Island was broken into.

A number of items were stolen, including a Mountfield lawnmower, an Efco 141SP chainsaw, a Stihl hedge trimmer, a socket set in a red case and five litres of Johnsons white paint.

The club believes that items may also have been taken from the tennis section.

Being a club that is funded and run by volunteers, Barry Athletic are going to be hit hard by the loss of equipment valued at more than £1000.

Press secretary Mark Rees said that they would be holding fundraising nights in the near future to try and replace the equipment, which is vital to maintaining the pitch.

"I think it must have been two or three people," he said. "They must have had a vehicle for the things they stole.

"They must have targeted us. It's not even the club's stuff. It belongs to the groundsman.

"Whoever did this is scum if you ask me."

Police are appealing for any information or any witnesses who may be able to help.

Anyone with information can contact Barry Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 1400145495.