SUPPORTERS and trustees of the new Skipton Community Sports Hub have been left in a state of shock after a break-in left them with a bill of thousands of pounds.

The hub, a joint project by Skipton Juniors FC and Skipton Cricket Club being built off Carleton New Road, was targeted by burglars who broke in, causing damage and stealing construction equipment together adding up to more than £10,000.

Criminals broke windows and forced doors sometime during the evening of Tuesday last week (February 20) to get away with tools, machinery and fittings including an electrical generator, compressor, light fittings and a variety of tools.

The hub, which was due to open in a few months, is the latest to fall victim of a number of burglaries that have happened in recent weeks in Craven including break-ins to the closed Dawson’s Department Store in Skipton, at The Craven Heifer in Grassington Road, and at an under construction house close to The Bailey.

Malcolm Birks, chairman of the Skipton Community Sports Hub, said: “This burglary of our new home is very disappointing. The people who have committed this crime have clearly not considered for one moment the impact it has on those affected, both emotionally and financially.

“A significant number of people have put their heart and soul into delivering the hub for Skipton and hundreds dug deeply to help meet our Crowdfunding target at the end of last year. When you consider how close to completion we are, it makes it even harder to take.”

The community sports hub has been funded through grants from the Premier League, FA and Government via the Football Foundation; the England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) and Craven District Council.

Together, Skipton Juniors FC and Skipton Cricket Club support the sporting activities of around 600 children and young people from the area. Once complete, the facility will serve the wider Skipton community; with the hub expected to host various community groups and clubs, as well as being the focal point for a wide variety of sporting activities.

Skipton town councillor, Brian McDaid, chair of the council's community safety working group, said: “It was a real shock to hear about the break-in at the Hub, as this is not just about the items stolen and the damage caused to the premises, but the impact on both Skipton Juniors FC and Skipton Cricket Club, both vital parts of our community and run by dedicated volunteers.

"These grassroots clubs are vital to our local community and for our young people, so it’s essential that our Community Safety Working Group offers as much support as possible to minimise the impact, so that from Skipton Juniors FC and Skipton Cricket can use the Hub as soon as possible”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “At just before 9.15pm on Tuesday February 20, police received a report of a burglary at Skipton Cricket Club / Sandylands Sports Centre on Carleton New Road in Skipton. Officers arrived on scene within five minutes, but the suspects had fled.

“An investigation is underway and witnesses or anyone with any information are asked to email or greg.iwanczuk@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

The hub’s management committee has set up a Just Giving page, which it hopes will raise funds to cover any shortfall from the insurance claim that has been lodged and help to deliver the completed building as soon as possible.

By Monday this week, it had already raised £1,555. For those able to help out the link is: https://checkout.justgiving.com/c/3511298; or https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/hubburglary To find out more about the project visit www.skiptonsportshub.co.uk