WOOLVERSTONE: Thieves have stolen more than �5,000 worth of equipment used to offer disabled Suffolk residents the opportunity to sail.

Volunteers arrived at the Woolvestone Project, based at Alton Water on Holbrook Road, on Monday morning to find a that “mindless” thieves had broken into the compound and stolen two outboard engines and the control pads of two safety boats.

The Woolverstone Project provides sailing opportunities for physically and mentally disabled people. However, without the equipment, which costs thousands of pounds to replace, all sailing for the foreseeable future has been cancelled.

John Wilkinson, a trustee of the project, said: “The site is unoccupied overnight and it is just horrible that people would do this.

“As a consequence of this mindless action we have had to cancel all of our sailing activities until replacement rescue boats can be found.

“We’re very disappointed because it is there to give the disabled the opportunity to experience sailing – but now we are unable to do this.”

Suffolk Police are appealing for information into the theft which is believed to have occurred between 4pm on Sunday and 8am on Monday morning.

A police spokeswoman later said that officers were linking the crime to a further incident of theft which saw a rigid inflatable boat and an outboard motor stolen from a nearby site between 7pm on Sunday and 7.10am on Monday.

Mr Wilkinson later said: “If anyone is able to help us in replacing the rescue boats we would be extremely grateful.”

To donate money to the Woolvestone Project contact John Wilkinson on 01473 715495.

If you can help Suffolk Police with their investigation contact the Crime Investigation Unit on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

n For more information about the Woolverstone Project visit www.woolverstoneproject.org.uk

n Have you benefited from the work of the Woolverstone Project? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk