HUNDREDS of pounds worth of airsoft guns and pellets were stolen from a business near Blockley resulting in the cancellation of a public event.

Cotswold Airsoft, located on the B4479, between Stow-on-the-Wold and Blockley, was raided by thieves who cut off three padlocks after smashing through the gated entrance with a heavy vehicle.

The co-owner of the site, Stewart Mooney, believes that around £600 in damage was done to the not-for-profit business after access was gained to an office area and a metal container.

He said: "The damage is getting towards £500 or £600 and we have had to cancel this month's games which were meant to be last Sunday, (May 7) as we do not have enough equipment.

"It is more of an inconvenience than anything, we have to buy everything ourselves. Any money we do make goes towards buying more equipment.

"We set it up as not for profit, as there is not anywhere in this part of the Cotswolds that you can go and play airsoft.

"This is going to set us back three or four months in our progression,” he said.

"Thieves broke into the main building and they only took airsoft equipment, such as guns and pellets rather than other valuable items.

"That makes me think it was not opportunistic thieves, as there are metal shipping equipment, an electricity generator and other valuable items that they could have taken but didn't.

"I think it was someone who had either played here before, or knew exactly what they were looking for,” he said.

"We are hoping to open for games next month but we will have to use props and rejig games because of the raid," added Stewart.

The business offers visitors an airsoft game, which is similar to paintball with the addition of real military tactics and full automatic and longer range weapons.

Mr Mooney and his fellow co-owners opened the site three years ago.

The break-in happened between 5pm on Saturday, April 29 and 11am on Sunday, April 30.

Anyone with information, call 101 and quote incident 160 of April 30.