Gloomy end to scouts' year

SCOUTS in Worle are hoping for a happier new year after being robbed of their tents and finding out their 'subs' may increase in the same week. Callous thieves broke into storage containers outside the 1st North Worle Scout Hut in Wansbrough Road and stole £5,000 worth of tent equipment.Group scout leader Carol Pepper was angry after waiting for six hours outside in the cold for the police who failed to show up. She said: "To be fair, they did not say they would send someone but they told me not to touch anything and leave things as they are." The break-in came just days after the scouts discovered they might have to pay more each evening to cope with increased running costs, because a playgroup which used to hire their hut has found a new base. Chairman Richard Knowles said: "Playgroups normally use the hut as well but more want to be associated with schools rather then scout huts."The money we receive from playgroups helps to keep the costs down but obviously without this the boys might have to pay the difference in increased subs."Speaking about the break-in over the weekend, he said: "If the police don't want to get involved there's very little we can do without them."We can't go knocking on people's doors. "The thieves looked like they knew what they were looking for - they had opened one of the boxes but they didn't trash the place."Weston's deputy sector inspector Dave Holtby who oversees policing in Worle said: "There were 14 stolen Vango four-man tents and people should be suspicious if they are offered them at this time of year."Sgt Holtby confirmed fingerprints would be taken and CCTV footage is still to be looked at. He said: "Any time we support other police forces, as we did on December 16 in Bristol following disturbances at the Bristol City v Swindon match, we will have difficulty responding to calls."Anyone with any information should call Crimestoppers on 0845 456 7000.