BURGLARS ransacked a riding school for disabled children and stole equipment worth thousands of pounds.

The Miller's Nook Riding School in Lostock Lane, Westhougton, was targeted between last Thursday and Saturday.

Thieves smashed their way into the stables and took three specially adapted saddles, each worth £900.

They also targeted the adjacent home of the stable owners and stole a wood burning stove, microwave, wooden flooring and shower fitting.

Brian Howard, who co-owns the charity riding school with his partner, Kathryn Miller, said: "In the short-term we could possibly have to stop some of the children riding. We just hope we can borrow the equipment. I don't know if these thieves knew it was a disabled riding school but it's hard to believe they couldn't have done.

"It just beggars belief that someone could do this to disabled children. I know it's today's society but I'm just so disappointed."

Mr Howard and Ms Miller went away on Thursday and discovered the theft when they returned to their log cabin on the site of the riding school in the early hours of Saturday morning.

In addition to the saddles, reins, bridles and other specialist tack worth hundreds of pounds were taken.

A horse box, complete with mini kitchen containing a stove, microwave and a boiler was also targeted and stripped bare. It will cost at least £10,000 to replace.

The riding school is a registered charity and offers riding lessons to local disabled children over the age of four upwards.

It is staffed almost entirely by volunteers and has been offering lessons for 18 months. It will officially open later this year.

Mr Howard said: "A lot of disabled children are excluded from most mainstream activities. Here they can come down and take part. If they can't walk, as soon as they get on the horse, they have legs and can experience movement.

"With the specialist saddles we only need one volunteer to lead them but without we'll need two or possibly more to help them."

A police spokesman said: "We have received a report an that incident has taken place and that police inquiries are ongoing."