A KEEN model maker has described burglars who stole gardening equipment and smashed up his hand-built model boat as 'lowlifes'.

Terry Higson, the president of North West Scale Model Boat Club, said the thieves got away with around £1,000 worth of tools and destroyed the radio-controlled boat he was storing there, which was worth about £300.

The break-in happened last Thursday or Friday evening at the concrete shed the club shares with Greenfields Fishing Club beside a pond off Squirrel Lane in Horwich.

Mr Higson, aged 74, who lives in nearby Crown Lane, said: "They have smashed all three expensive locks and damaged the big steel door.

"They are not kids because they would have had to have hammered that door with some kind of sledgehammer.

"The gate was still locked so there must have been two or three of them to lift the tools over the gate and into a car."

The model club's nearly new lawnmower and strimmer were taken along with the fishing club's strimmer and sets of waders and other smaller items.

Mr Higson's three-foot sloop with sails was removed from the shed, smashed up and the broken bits tossed into the pond.

He said: "I built it from scratch and it's all my own work. It really was a labour of love.

"Lots of people said it was a really nice little boat and I'd like to restore it in time.

"The last one I sold for nearly £1,000 and this is probably worth about £300.

"It was very disappointing but it's not only that. We have done lots of work making the area nice by cutting the grass and planting trees and some lowlife has come in and spoiled our efforts."

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: "The offenders have forced locks on the door. Inquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made as yet."