Bowls club faces closure as £10,000 of equipment is stolen

A popular bowls club is facing a bleak future today after thieves stole maintenance equipment worth £10,000.

Officials at Copdock and Washbrook Bowling Club say that if the tools - which included a rotary lawnmower, lawn scarifier, and a heavy duty spiker - are not returned they may be forced to close.

The club's greenkeeper Tony Coward discovered the break-in on Friday.

"I went up on Friday morning to cut the green and was faced with no equipment," he said.

Mr Coward noticed the gate was open and initially thought they may have had a mower stolen as they had four years ago.

But to his shock, most of the shed equipment was gone.

"My initial reaction was to go home and sob," he said.

"We really work hard to fundraise and get money for that equipment, and the club could close if we don't get it back."

Suffolk police said the thieves forced their way into the metal container housing the equipment between 9.30pm on Thursday and 10am on Friday.

The outdoor bowling club, situated off the Old London Road in Copdock, is used regularly by almost 40 members

Read the full story from EADT24 Suffolk HERE

Picture caption: Tony Coward with several members of the Copdock and Washbrook Bowling Club. Left to right, Eddie Knight, Bob Watson, Tony Coward.