A former village social club at the centre of controversy over its sudden closure was broken into and wrecked.

The raid at the Peninsula Club in Bells Road, Hoo, was reported on social media by former director Stephen Fielding, who said it was being investigated by police.

Mr Fielding posted on Facebook: “Whoever broke in stealing pipe work, causing mass flooding, emptying the pool, opening the safe with the key and taking all the cash, stealing optics and beer pumps, I hope you are proud.”

It is the latest in a series of misfortunes for members of the club, who had already lost a much-valued facility, and many had harboured hopes it would reopen.

Staff are also in dispute with the management over unpaid wages.

Posting on the same Facebook group, Joy Trice, said: “The building will just become sadder and sadder.”

Mary Goodsell wrote: “Total mindless idiots. Why do they want to destroy everything?”