THIEVES have robbed young fishermen of all their equipment and stolen a range of power tools, including a generator, from a store at Lydney's Boating Lake.

The theft took place overnight on Saturday from a unit of four former garages used as a store by members of Lydney and District Angling Club.

A door was forced to gain entry and it is known that a wheelbarrow was used to take the fishing tackle and equipment away.

The fishing rods, reels, boxes, baits and umbrellas were all donations to the club's junior section by wellwishers and used by club officials to teach youngsters how to fish correctly in the nearby lake.

Club chairman Paul Grindle said: "It is a blow to the club. The equipment was used to coach youngsters who want to take up fishing. The replacement cost will sure to be well over £500."

Mr Grindle said the thieves also stole valuable maintenance equipment including a generator, a chainsaw and a brush cutter.

"The gate to the Lake had been locked and secured. Whoever carried out the theft had to use a wheelbarrow to take the items away. I'm sure someone locally will know something about this and I would appeal to them to contact the police immediately," said Mr Grindle.

•A police spokesperson said first reports of suspicious activity around the club hut came in at 11.15pm (Saturday) and officers arrived at 1.04am and found no damage. A further report of a burglary came in at 9.01am. Officers arrived at 10.56am where they found evidence of a break in.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 0845 0901234 quoting incident 655 of February 5.