A TRAILER filled with equipment used to provide football sessions to people with learning difficulties and disabilities has been stolen in a ‘shocking’ incident.

The Kix Start sessions based in Dorchester and taken to local schools had only just restarted after having to stop due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kix Start was set up by Shaun Hearn and his wife Sharon to enable everyone of all ages and abilities and learning difficulties, including vulnerable adults, to benefit from playing football and training activities.

The group is run through Dorchester Football Club and the trailer was parked in the football club car park, off Weymouth Avenue, when it was stolen.

Dorset Police are investigating the theft.

Mr Hearn said the trailer was stolen within a 48-hour window and noticed it was gone when he went to the car park at around 10.30am yesterday morning.

He said: “It’s shocking really, it was all locked up, I just can’t understand it - it’s crazy.

“It’s horrible to turn up there and you can’t believe your eyes that it has just disappeared.

“I just hope somebody can get it back to us - we just want it back.”

The trailer was filled with zorbing materials and big inflatable balls you can get into – and residents are being urged to be aware if they are offered this sort of equipment and report it to the police.

Mr Hearn added: “It’s not the value of it that matters, it’s the service we provide that people are going to miss out on.

“We only started back a week ago. I wouldn’t let it affect the session so we will carry on regardless.”

An appeal over the stolen equipment has been shared hundreds of times on social media and Mr Hearn is hoping the trailer and its equipment will be found.

He has reported it to the police and any witnesses or anyone with information on the theft should contact Dorset Police on 101, report it online at dorset.police.uk/do-it-online or email 101@dorset.pnn.police, quoting incident number 55200145564.

Kix Start works with local schools, organisations, clubs and groups to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get involved with sports and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

For more information about the project, visit kixstart.uk