Bowling club hit by raiders

A member of Lowther Gardens Bowling Club was walking his dog through the park when he noticed a window panel missing from the building and reported the break-in to police.

Police say the thieves broke into a shed, which housed Fylde Council’s gardening equipment, and stole two strimmers worth £400 and two hedge trimmers worth £400.

They also took two fuel cans and clothing and gloves belonging to council workers.

After breaking into the bowling club through a window, they then searched two nearby garages.

Mike Smith, secretary of Lowther Gardens Bowling Club, said: “They took the glass panel out of the building so they must have had tools with them. They broke into some of the personal lockers and took a cash tin.

“Thankfully we had just emptied it that afternoon but they scattered papers everywhere and made a mess. It must have been a planned operation.”

The thieves struck some time between 7pm on Wednesday and 8am on Thursday.

It is thought they used a vehicle to flee the scene with the equipment.

A spokesman for Fylde Council said: “We are managing to keep up maintenance of the gardens.

“We are borrowing tools and equipment from other sites across the borough so the garden won’t suffer. It is a great inconvenience – the gardens look at their best at this time of year and we will ensure that continues.

“We would urge anyone who knows anything about this incident to contact the council or police.”

Police are now reviewing CCTV cameras in the area and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

A police spokesman said: “We have got a number of inquiries ongoing, including reviewing cctv.

“The offenders have gained access to the shed by using bodily force and broken through an internal door. They have then removed a window from the bowling pavilion and searched the property.

“It is likely the offenders used a vehicle to carry the stolen items. Anyone who has seen any suspicious activity around the time of the incident is asked to contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.