THIEVES broke into a Weymouth skatepark and snatched hundreds of pounds worth of equipment.

They took a computer, a hi-fi system, cash, computer disks containing vital information and damaged a pool table.

Manager of The Front, Henry Johnson, said the break-in was a blow to the cash-strapped charity and is particularly calling for the return of the discs because they hold details about members.

He added that the intruders ransacked the venue by pulling down shelves and scattering the contents of first aid boxes across the grounds.

Mr Johnson said: "We are a children's charity and don't make any profit. We are constantly scrimping and saving so this is hard for us.

"What we want back the most are the CDs that have a lot of information from the monitoring we do. The money we were given by Sport England and other funding partners was with the proviso that information is backed up.

"Every person that comes through the gate gets a membership card so we take their details - their name, sex, how old they are.

"We do have most of the information elsewhere but these discs wouldn't be of use to anyone else. Whoever broke in must have believed them to be valuable and we would like them back.

"They left the place in a mess and it took us a day to clear up."

He added that skaters will not be able to listen to music at the venue until funds are found for a new stereo.

The skatepark was built with the financial help of Dorset County Council, Sport England and the South West Development Agency after complaints of young people skating along the sea wall and along the Esplanade.

Anyone with information about the stolen discs should call The Front on 01305 771301.

Police are now investigating the incident.