Rugby club 'gutted' after floodlights stolen in series of thefts

Members of Shotton Steel RFC Ladies' team at the pitch where they train

A small community rugby club has been left in the dark after its portable floodlights were stolen from a storage container.

The break-in at Shotton Steel RFC was discovered by the club chairman ahead of a ladies' training session on Wednesday evening.

The padlock on the container had been cut through and several lamps, which were used to illuminate the pitch during winter training and were worth thousands of pounds, were missing. Honorary club secretary Sarah Kenworthy said everyone at the club was "gutted" but training would continue.

It is the latest in a series of container burglaries in Flintshire, with North Wales Police carrying out "targeted patrols" across the area.

Thieves cut the padlock from the container

Ms Kenworthy said, despite the impact, training had continued so far because they could not "let any of the players down".

"The children look forward to coming. We're there to provide a service for everybody to enjoy and learn the great game of rugby.

"We're in an underprivileged area. We'll continue to train even if we have to fundraise for more lights. We won't let these people win."

The break-in at the rugby club and a broken lock were discovered ahead of training on Wednesday evening

A church was also targeted in a similar attack.

Volunteers at St Mary and St Peter's church in Bagillt discovered on Monday that churchyard maintenance equipment, said to be valuable, had been stolen from a storage container.

District Insp Rob Stevenson, from North Wales Police, said: "Burglaries remain a priority in Flintshire.

"Targeted patrols continue across the district as well as officers from our We Don't Buy Crime Team visiting vulnerable locations to offer security and crime prevention advice.

"I would encourage members of the public to be vigilant for suspicious activity in their area and report any concerns to the police."