Burglars flood play area

Burglars have flooded a new children's soft play centre in Shropshire, just weeks before it was due to open for business.

The raiders also stole thousands of pounds of tools belonging to Steven Marston, who has spent almost two years designing and building the Kids Bizz indoor adventure centre on the Maes y Clawdd estate in Oswestry.

Mr Marston said the burglary had set him back, but he was determined to open by November.

The unit in the former Martins cash and carry premises has been transformed into two themed play worlds, a castle for older children and a ship for the younger ones.

Mr Marston, who installs play equipment as a profession, had been working at his unit until late on Saturday.

He returned on Sunday with his own children and their friends to try out the new play equipment, to discover the break-in.

"They had obviously targeted the place. They stole around £5,000 of tools and other equipment such as safety lighting and even boxes of door handles," said Mr Marston.

"They had also turned on the taps and flooded the place. I arrived on Sunday afternoon to water pouring out of the door."

He said the theft of the tools, for which he was not insured, was now having a serious effect on his work.

Mr Marston said: "People have been really kind and lent me tools so I can carry on working.

"The other work apart from Kids Bizz had been doing well and I was taking on other people, which is why I had so many tools.

"We are still planning to open in Oswestry by November but this has really knocked me.

"I have sunk everything into this project and it has taken around two years from getting planning permission to designing and building it."

Police are investigating the break-in and anyone with any information is asked to contact officers on 08457 444888.

By Sue Austin