Disabled bowlers face disappointment - after thieves stole a box a T-shirts from a Wickford garage.

Michael Woodgate runs a bowling league for adults with learning difficulties at the Ashleigh Centre in Whitmore Way, Basildon, and had been given the polo shirts as part of a sponsorship deal with cable company, Telewest.

Around 20 shirts were in the garage, ready to be given to league members, when they were taken from his garage in Ingrave Close, sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Mr Woodgate said the shirts were black, with a green Telewest logo on the back and an three embroidered bowling pins on the front.

The shirts also had the initials SBA - for special bowling association - sewn under the logo.

He said: "Once they realise what's on the front they would almost certainly dump them.

"We will have to try and raise some money to replace them, which is money we could spend on other things."

Mr Woodgate's wife, Deborah, added: "We've had quite a few things go missing from garages around here recently.

"It's not the money, as the T-shirts are not worth a lot, but it was a charitable cause and would have been nice for the people in the league."

The couple appealed for anyone who comes across the shirts to hand them over to the police.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Basildon police on 01268 532212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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