Cricket clubs in Shropshire are being warned to be extra vigilant, after a spate of break-ins in recent weeks.

Burglars have struck at St George's, Allscott, Lilleshall, Worfield and Madeley in Shropshire, with neighbouring counties also being hit.

Allscott lost a set of heavy-duty gang mowers and a roller worth over £10,000.

"We're getting news of break-ins here and further afield, I've never known anything like it," said Mike Robinson from the Shropshire Premier League.

"There seems to be a real epidemic of it at the moment," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

Allscott club chairman Tim Clare said: "Somebody cut the locks off our gate and must have brought in a big vehicle, because they took a big heavy-duty field roller and a set of gang mowers - all weighing a couple of tons.

"New mowers alone would cost £10,000 to replace - and that's far more than we can afford."

Robinson has advised clubs to be extra security-conscious, but added: "One of the problems is that a lot of cricket clubs tend to be a bit isolated, on the edge of towns or in villages.

"I know Goodrich cricket club in Herefordshire had their ground preparation equipment stolen three times and they've given up replacing it - deciding to subcontract all their ground work which obviously costs a lot of money.

"Having said that, it affects us all. My club Oswestry is practically in the town centre and someone emptied our fuel tank one day, costing us several hundred pounds in heating oil.

"It seems no matter how good your security is, these people are finding a way through."

West Mercia Police - who cover Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire - say they are aware that sports clubs are being targeted.

The force are asking anyone who lives near a club to be wary of unusual activity in their area.

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