Great Wakering Rebels cycle speedway club have been hit by thieves who stole seven panels of fencing from their track at the village's Sports Centre.

The theft took place late Sunday or early Monday morning -- just a few weeks after the club had received a £3,000 grant from Rochford Council to provide the new fencing.

The work was organised by Wakering businessman Roger Burroughs. Club official Den Winch said: "Roger has been a great friend to us over the years and has agreed to replace the panels that have gone.

"It's such a shame. Once Wakering was a place without any trouble, but thefts and vandalism are becoming just as commonplace here as anywhere else. It's a crying shame."

Rebels will ride their last meeting of the season, a charity affair, on Sunday week (November 3) at 2pm when monies raised will go to the Helen Rollason Breast Cancer Fund.

Rebels' big prospect for the future, under-10 Rhys Naylor from Basildon, gave a tremendous performance in the East Anglian Schools' Championship to finish third overall.

Published Thursday October 24, 2002