GAZETTE & HERALD: A FAMILY business suffered a huge loss last Thursday when £40,000 worth of top-of-the-range golf clubs were stolen.

Between 60 and 70 new sets of Taylor Made clubs were taken from the Tony Valentine Golf Centre on Bradford Road, Corsham, after thieves broke into a storeroom.

Owners Tony and Elaine Valentine are urging people who are offered 2005 Rac clubs at bargain prices to contact the police.

The new model of clubs had only been in the shop for three weeks and have a retail price of between £450 and £550.

But Mr Valentine said it would be business as normal.

"These things happen but I think we were targeted. I think you can be a victim of your own success.

"We do a lot of advertising so people know where we are.

"The most annoying thing is the business is going really well."

The couple, who have owned the golf centre for seven years, were alerted after an alarm was activated but the thieves got away.

However, they left behind a large quantity of clubs, as if they were disturbed.

PC Kate Sherwood of Corsham police would like to hear from anyone who saw people behaving suspiciously on the A4 Chippenham to Bath road or Bradford Road, or anyone in the vicinity of the Tony Valentine Golf Centre shortly before 10pm to contact her on (01249) 712172.