Fury as vandals sabotage safety boat

Sometime between midday on Wednesday August 20 and 4pm the following day, vandals cut the wires of the motor but it wasn't discovered until junior training the following evening.

Boat club sponsorship officer, Roy Dauncey, said: "That launch is used 100% of the time when the juniors are training. It was built specifically for rescuing any young scullers who go in the water, which they often do at that stage.

"I just feel that it is a sign of the times, if people can go around doing this sort of thing."

Junior coach Jeremy Pollen is frustrated the incident has halted training, especially since there has been an influx of new juniors following Britain's Olympic rowing success.

He said: "We're a bit snookered now as we can't provide a safety launch for newer members. The more experienced members will be ok, but we still need to make sure we have got cover on the riverbanks, so more people have to come down."

Having viewed the engine himself, Mr Pollen was amazed at the meticulous nature of the vandalism and thought they must have been there for a while.

He said: "They have done it in a really systematic way. They have taken off the hood of the engine and cut every single wire. I just think it's mindless vandalism, it must have taken a fair amount of time going through all those different wires."

The club is stuck until a new engine can be found, which Mr Pollen fears could be costly. He said: "Financially for us it's going to be a huge burden as I don't think it's repairable and a new engine is upwards of £2,000."

Surrey Police have asked anyone with information to call 0845 222 111 quoting reference RM083038.