THIEVES who stole nearly 20,000 worth of specialised building equipment at the Sully Hospital re-development have plunged the future of Barry Wanderers cricket club into doubt.

The Galliards site was ransacked at the end of January, when a 9,000 tractor used to maintain the four acres of ground that surrounds the former medical institution was stolen from a lock-up.

But the pilferers didn't stop at the commercial equipment.

Instead, they moved on to the locked shed where the Barry Wanderers cricket club kept their two sit-on lawn mowers and their pitch roller - leaving the club facing a bill of around 10,000.

The stolen mowers are a Mountfield sit-on tractor mower and an Auto Sertis Super Bowl mower.

The missing roller is a Ben Ford 2-tonne roller.

Now the thriving Sully-based club, which successfully moved up a league at the end of last season, runs the risk of not playing any home games this year.

Club captain Andrew Fenton said: "We're extremely disappointed at this setback.

"We've spent many hours during the closed season removing a perimeter path that runs around the ground to improve the facilities for members and away teams visiting us.

"Now all that hard work and effort could be in vain if we cannot get the gear to keep our pitch in top condition.

"We're trying to raise funds through insurance, but that all takes time so we're looking for anyone who has this kind of specialised machinery spare who could loan the club mowers and, more importantly, a roller."

If you have been offered any of these items since January 17, 2005, please contact DS Richard Williams at Barry Police Station on 01446 734451 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.