Tools worth £40,000 stolen from village bowls club

Police say a wheelbarrow left at the site was likely used in the theft

Equipment worth about £40,000 has been stolen from a village bowls club.

Suffolk Police said the theft in Stowupland took place between Tuesday, 22 October at 14:30 BST and Wednesday, 23 October at 09:00.

Lawn-mowers, grass trimmers and other heavy machinery were taken after locks on a shed were cut.

Stowupland Bowls Club member Michael Weir said it was "devastating".

He said a lawn-mower valued at about £10,000 was among the equipment stolen, and another item had only arrived a week earlier.

"We're now having to consider putting in a container to house any heavy-duty equipment, so it doesn't happen in the future," he said.

He added they were "at a loss" on how to replace the items.

Detectives are linking the theft to another in Semer, Suffolk earlier in October where quad bikes, chainsaws and a mini tractor were taken, with an overall value of about £30,000.