Thieves have stolen tens of thousands of pounds of ballooning equipment and two trailers from Oswestry’s hot air balloon factory after raiders broke into a compound at the rear of the building.

Raiders broke into the Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons compound, on Maesbury Road Industrial Estate, by ripping open part of the fencing and tearing out a steel, reinforced concrete post.

They stole two Ifor Williams trailers containing specialist ballooning equipment.

Staff at the factory, which was set up by record breaking balloonist Per Lindstrand, said the trailers were seen being driven north towards Chester late on Sunday afternoon.

One trailer, painted with Redrow branding, contained a Lindstrand hot air balloon envelope, and a balloon basket. There was also a balloon “burner” and a fan and six fuel cylinders fitted with red jackets, as well as smaller items such as a first aid kit and fire extinguisher bag.

Kevin Pilsbury, from Lindstrand, said: “The second trailer was relatively empty, bar a Lindstrand fan, a front guard cage and propeller, and four ‘off cylinders’, all fitted with red cylinder jackets.”

He said the trailers were last seen on the A483 heading north towards Wrexham on Sunday, at about 5.45pm.

Maria Hawkaluk, West Mercia Police spokeswoman, said the theft occurred between 5pm on Friday and about 8am on Monday.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact police on 0300 333 3000.