TENS of thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused by thieves at Penarth Yacht Club.

Yesterday, it was estimated that £25,000 worth of property was stolen or destroyed in the raid - including lead which had been there for more than 130 years.

Part of the balcony was also cracked, with a cast iron drain pipe also snapped during the early hours break in.

Huw Pickford, the club steward who lives on site, said he heard a "crash-like" noise on October 11, but dismissed it as "just waves crashing up against the walls".

"Even though I was in bed, I decided to look out and realised that the tide was out," Mr Pickford added.

"Then I heard another crash and awful bang so I looked out again and spotted someone looking up from the middle of the road."

The 37-year-old immediately called the police to raise the alarm.

"I could hear the noises so loudly because they were close to my bedroom window," he said.

"I'm absolutely appalled and shocked at what has happened.

"They were after the lead and managed to remove about 15 to 20 metres of it.

"We are upset and angry at what has happened. I just hope that the people involved are made fully aware of what they did."

Tony Kirtland, 59, who is commodore at the club, said yesterday that it was "upsetting".

"Unfortunately this incident is one of those things that we need to get our heads around," he said.

"The lead had been there since 1880.

"A lot of disruption will be caused and we're not happy about it."

A spokesman from the South Wales Police said: "South Wales Police attended Penarth Yacht Club on the Esplanade at approximately 1.50am on Tuesday, October 11, following a report that three men were trying to gain entry to the premises.

"On arrival officers discovered that the suspects, who had fled the scene, had managed force entry via one of the doors to the building, and that a large amount of lead had been removed from the roof and balcony and hidden in a commercial bin on the street below.

"Three men, one aged 18 and two aged 19, were later arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and have been bailed pending further inquiries."