HEARTLESS crooks cut through locks to snatch a generator from a village charity.

Bill Davidson was greeted by a scene of devastation when he arrived at Parkeston Welfare Park, in Garland Road, Parkeston at around 7am yesterday.

Tooled-up thieves had struck overnight, cutting their way through padlocks on the gate to gain entrance.

They targeted a shed where the generator, which provides all electricity to the park and its facilities, was kept.

“It is disgusting, I cannot believe it,” said Mr Davidson, who is chairman of the Parkeston Welfare Park committee.

“It is the most despicable thing I have experienced in my time with the park.

“It took us such a long time to get the funding for this generator.

“They have snapped the padlocks to the shed and cut a chain which actually kept the thing bolted to the ground.

“Somehow they have then dragged the generator about a quarter of a mile.

“It took six people to lift it into place when we installed it about a year ago.

“I feel it must have been someone who knew where it is, nothing else was taken.”

Parkeston Welfare Park relies on donations to run, developing a football pitch, nature park and outdoor gym on two pieces of land donated to the village by Tendring Council and the Environment Agency.

The committee managed to establish a football team, providing a facility for youth football in Parkeston.

The generator powers the dressing rooms and floodlights at the park, which are used during football training for children in the evenings.

“It would cost around £27,000 to have the place fitted for electricity, so this generator was priceless to us.

“It cost around £1,400 which is a huge amount for us and it was purchased through fundraising.

“It also powers any fun days we put on for fundraising.

“I just don’t know what we’ll do.”

Anyone with information about the raid should contact Essex Police on 101.