Plans to extend the track at a railway heritage centre have been delayed after thieves stole tools and welding equipment.

They are valued at £2,000 and were stolen from the Swindon and Cricklade Railway centre at Bluns-don.

Offenders have broken into the centre, on the site of the former Blunsdon Station in Tadpole Lane, three times in the past week.

Russell Wear, who helps run the centre, said that plans to extend a stretch of track will now have to be put on hold until the tools are replaced.

On Saturday, thieves attempted to steal a quantity of frozen food from a caf, but they were disturbed trying to load the goods into a wheelbarrow at 11.20pm.

They ran off in the direction of Tadpole Lane, leaving the goods behind.

Anyone with information about the burglaries should call Cricklade police on Swindon 750207.

He said: "We currently run trains on a one-mile stretch of track, but were planning to extend that by another mile.

"The theft of the welding tools in particular will set that back."

The centre, which is run by a charity, also had locks on several storage sheds forced, although nothing was taken.