Cashier Brenda Bathe surveys the break-in sceneA BURGLARY at a Swindon golf course is thought to be the work of young vandals.

Thugs smashed their way into a cabin on the grounds of the council-owned Moredon Par Three course in Akers Way and stole 48 golf clubs.

David Buckingham, the golf facilities manager for Swindon Council, described the theft as mindless.

The intruders also made off with golf balls, pencils and tees.

Of the 48 second-hand clubs worth a total of £384 five were later found dumped on the golf course but the others are still missing.

Mr Buckingham said: "It's just really inconvenient. We had to let people go out on the course for free because we couldn't open the cabin for takings.

"Then there's the expense of having to replace these clubs and repair the damage to the cabin.

"It's just a real shame because this is such a good facility and it is very family orientated. I have my suspicions that what happened was just mindless vandalism. It's hardly a professional job all they took was second-hand golf clubs."

The cabin is where the cashier sits to take payment for playing on the course and the clubs that were stolen were for hiring out.

Brenda Bathe, 65, a cashier who has worked in the cabin for four years, said: "I was the first person there in the morning to see the damage and it was quite a shock. It does make you feel quite vulnerable."

PC Stephen Yeates, of Swindon police, said: "Whoever stole the clubs will probably try to sell them on. If anyone is offered some clubs for sale they should get in touch with us."

Anyone with information about the burglary on Friday night should contact Swindon police on 01793 528111.