A paintball venue was raided by thieves who made off with thousands of pounds of stock after ransacking the business.

Raiders targeted Paintballing at Quex overnight taking guns, tools and supplies including sweets and biscuits from the shelves.

Graham Stroud discovered the carnage first thing this morning when he arrived at 6am and has been forced to close for the day while police investigate.

He told KentOnline an estimated £8,000 worth of equipment and stock had been taken in the burglary from the business based at the Quex Activity Centre on Quex Park in Birchington.

Mr Stroud said: "The place was ransacked. Floodlights and cameras and the telephone lines have been ripped out and they've ripped all the locks off. They even smashed up the toilet pump.

"A lot of stuff has been taken - worth about £8,000.

"It's a lot of things we're going to have to replace - tools, chop saws, paintball guns, airsoft guns and even sweets and biscuits off the shelves."

Mr Stroud said the burglars appeared to know what they were doing after cutting off the CCTV cameras around the site but did not manage to get into the main stores.

The business is set to remain closed today but Mr Stroud hoped to be back up and running again on Saturday morning.

"It's very stressful. We've got enough to do in a day and then coming in to this," Mr Stroud added.

He added vehicle tracks were visible and the raiders would have needed transport due to the 'weight and volume' of items taken.

Police officers have been searching the property throughout the morning and forensics teams were sent out.

Mr Stroud added: "Forensics are looking for prints and things. Hopefully the police will find something."

A police spokesman said: "We received a report of a burglary at a business premises in Quex Park, Birchington.

"It is reported that suspect or suspects have entered the building via the back door overnight on Thursday and Friday."

Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting reference 08-0376 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.