A dog training club lost more than £3,000 of equipment following an arson attack on a shed used as a store.

Diana Blackwell, who runs the non-profit-making Bowers Dog Training and Agility Club on ground in Watlington Road, Benfleet, read about the fire in the Echo.

However, she didn't realise it was her shed because firefighters had described it as derelict.

Mrs Blackwell said: "I am surprised the fire service classified it as derelict as it has been the target for several arson attacks in the past. I can only think it was so badly damaged when they arrived they thought it had been empty.

"The first I knew about it was when I went to the field and saw it burnt to the ground. It was absolutely devastating. More than 13 years of hard work had literally gone up in smoke because of these mindless vandals."

The club, which trains up to 70 dogs on Sunday mornings, lost a range of equipment including see-saws, tyre tunnels, and A-frames.