THIEVES caused £5,000 worth of damage when they went on a wrecking spree in a stolen digger and dumper truck.

The truck was stolen from a building firm working in Thamesdown Drive, Abbey Meads.

It was used to burst through a fence into Moredon Recreation Ground near Moredon School.

There, rare trees, a croquet lawn and football pitches were destroyed.

The vandals then used the vehicle to crash into a lock-up container, stealing strimmers, hedge cutters and leaf blowers stored there.

Swindon Council has condemned the act as mindless vandalism.

Now groundsmen face weeks of costly repairs and sports clubs face weeks of disruption while the damage is undone.

Geoff Lewis, assistant chief officer of Swindon Services, explained: "The damage is appalling and runs into thousands of pounds.

"They've driven straight over a line of rare horn beam trees which have been growing there since the 70s and they've also totally destroyed the croquet scoring shed, as well as causing extensive damage to fields, fences and goalposts.

"The trees which were mature will now have to be replaced with smaller trees, which is a great shame, and it's going to take some time to clear up all the mess."

Cliff Cardis, 73, is secretary of the Swindon Croquet Club, which has been based at Moredon Recreation Ground since 1996.

On discovering that the club's pitch and scoring shed had been wrecked beyond repair, he said: "I feel awful. The shed is like matchwood completely smashed. And this isn't the first time we've had our pitch vandalised. The shed has been regularly daubed with graffiti.

"Once someone even drove a van over the croquet lawn. Our members are all going to be so upset by this vandalism."

Locked behind high fences, the truck was on hire to Raymond Brown Building, which is constructing a new pumping station in Thamesdown Drive,

A spokesman confirmed that thieves broke in and hot-wired the vehicle before driving it away.

He said: "The machine is worth £20,000 and was parked securely with several other vehicles.

"It appears that the thieves got in and managed to get it started. We're waiting to hear whether the machine was damaged in any way."

Police believe the thieves left the ground via Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, before dumping the truck in an alleyway to the rear of Ferndale Road yesterday morning.

Police have appealed for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

The truck was eight feet wide and twelve feet long with a scoop dump on the front.

Anyone who saw it or who has information as to the identity of the suspects is asked to contact PC Neil Parsons at Swindon police on Swindon 528111.