Members of an archery club have been left devastated after thieves “brutalised” their storage container with angle grinders and stole thousands of pounds of equipment.

Up to 500 arrows and 40 bows, described by the club as possible “weapons”, were taken from a locked box in the grounds of Fox Archers archery club in Otford, Sevenoaks overnight on Saturday.

The theft meant the club’s well-planned tournament the following day could not go ahead and it means adult beginner classes will no longer be able to run, once, the current course is completed using borrowed equipment.

Fox Archers, which has been running since the mid 1970s, is staffed entirely by volunteers and has more than 75 members ranging in age from eight to 80.

Club secretary Zoe Tyrrell said many have been left in tears.

“It’s been awful,” she said. “Everything portable has been stolen. The only thing they haven’t taken is the straw bales.

“When we arrived early on Sunday morning to set up for the tournament we found the box brutalised and arrows strewn everywhere.”

Zoe, 57, calculates the club has lost about £5,000 worth of equipment they use for courses to teach beginners.

Mum Zoe said: “It’s the emotional cost for the vulnerable people who use the club more than anything.

Her daughter Molly, 24, is autistic and sees the archery club as her safe place.

“It’s a chance to step away from normal life and come together as a group in a safe space and someone has infiltrated that.

“It’s a drip in the middle of the pond that causes so many more ripples.”

She said the way the container had been damaged is a constant reminder.

“We can’t even put a new lock on. They have sliced through everything with angle grinders. It’s a visual reminder.”

Most of the equipment stolen was used by new members before they went to purchase their own set, which costs up to £80 for a bow and £9 for a set of arrows.

There were also a number of trophies inside the 20ft container.

‘It’s the emotional cost…more than anything’

Members usually keep their equipment at home but because of the tournament the following day, Zoe had left her distinctive bow and bag in the container, whilst her daughter had left all her equipment.

“She had a bag which contained all the milestones of her progress since she started 10 years ago including a quiver someone had made for her 18th birthday and a keyring a member gave her shortly before they died in April.

“She is distraught.”

Fighting back tears, Zoe said the club means so much to its members.

And she is worried about the equipment now being in the community.

“There are now 40 bows and up to 500 arrows out there somewhere,” she said. “They are weapons. They can do a great deal of damage.”

The equipment will cost thousands to replace and means the club will have to stop its beginner courses until they can replace the missing items.

Zoe said: “It was equipment we have bought or been donated over so many years. We are all totally devastated.”

Kent Police said officers are investigating the break-in that happened in the early hours of September 1.

A spokesman said: “Archery equipment including arrows and more than 30 bows were stolen, as well as several trophies. The items were estimated to be worth around £5,000.

“Officers attended and inquiries have included forensic analysis at the scene.”

Anyone with information which may assist the investigation should call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting refence 46/148695/24, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.