FORTY bows, which could be used as weapons, have been stolen from an archery club in Harden.

Burglars broke into the Aire Valley Archers’ clubhouse on the St Ives Estate.

Vice-chairman of the organisation, Martin Pybus, said thieves used tools from one of the club’s sheds to break through three sets of doors, including locked metal roller shutters, to access an equipment storeroom.

The break-in was discovered by a member of the club on Monday morning.

Mr Pybus said: “It looks like they were after the bows. They come apart so they are not that big to carry. They also took a metal detector we use to find arrows, and a petrol strimmer. At this stage we think it’s about £5,000 worth of equipment plus damage to the building.

“Obviously everybody’s heartbroken.

“These bows were used to get people into archery on our beginners’ courses.”

But he warned that the bows also could be used dangerously.

He said: “It’s not like a gun in the sense that you need a licence but in the wrong hands it can be used as a weapon.”

Mr Pybus suspected the club was targeted and urged anyone who spots the Core Archery bows, which each have a wooden handle and a silver label marked with a number or letter, to contact the police.

He said: “The scene was a little chaotic when we discovered the burglary, some of the beginners’ arrows were strewn over here and there.

“The cheeky bit was they took them round in one of our wheelbarrows, which they then abandoned.”

Police confirmed no arrests had been made in connection with the burglary, which happened on Sunday.

Aire Valley Archers has more than 200 members and runs drop-in sessions for people who want to try archery as well as beginners’ courses.

Fees for the programme go towards paying for equipment, such as the bows which have been taken, and maintenance.

Mr Pybus said the Archery GB-affiliated club would be unable to welcome beginners until the equipment was recovered or new kit purchased.

He said: “We teach all ages, from eight or ten years old. And some of our members are well into their 70s. It’s great for families.

“Hopefully we will be able to replace the bows. But we want to make it as difficult as possible for whoever took them to sell them on.”

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 101 quoting incident number 13180023718 of January 15.

For more information about the club, visit aire-valley-archers.co.uk.