THOUSANDS of pounds worth of equipment was stolen from Pershore football ground this week as thieves targeted the community sports club.

Around £4,500 worth of goods were stolen in the theft, which took place overnight Wednesday (March 25) into Thursday morning, including lots of pitch and maintenance equipment from a sit on mower to a roller, a spiker and chains and arrows.

The items were taken from the portable cabins in the club's car park, off King George's Way in Pershore.

But the club say despite the theft hitting them hard after years of fundraising and building the profile they will carry on regardless.

Ken Tallis, chairman of Pershore Town Football Club, said: "Part of our outbuilding was broken into and they have stolen the lawn mower and equipment used for keeping the pitch in order.

"The goods are worth about £4,500. The groundsman discovered the theft. It's just unfortunate in as much as we have a lot of junior teams playing down there and we are just coming out of a period where we have been fundraising and raising the profile of the club to keep it going and then we get a set back like this."

Pershore FC has been fundraising for around two years in order to stay afloat and maintain the club as a community facility.

But they say they won't let this keep them down and up and coming games will still take place as planned.

"We have spent the last few years fundraising and getting the club in order to keep the junior teams going as well as keeping the club as a community facility for Pershore," added Mr Tallis.

"It's like one step forward and six steps back. But it's currently not going to effect the club in any way.

"We have borrowed a lawn mower but we still need to replace the equipment. The person has lent us it, which is great, we are extremely grateful for that. It's just an unfortunate situation for us."

Anyone that has any information about the theft should contact the police on 101 and quote crime number 22CD/19804A/15.