A GUNDOG trainer has been hit hard after kennels worth thousands of pounds were stolen from Fugglestone Red in Salisbury.

Nick Coates, who runs Gospel Ash Gundogs, with his wife Philippa, was based in Fugglestone Red Buildings for 16 years, the site of the theft.

The business has just had to relocate to Croucheston in the Chalke Valley due to being in the middle of the new Fugglestone Red development.

Mr Coates, a Kennel Club judge who also teaches internationally, said the block of four kennels was stolen sometime between 5pm on Tuesday, May 19 and 10am on Wednesday, May 20.

He said: "The whole situation has been very stressful.

"We have had to find accommodation where we can continue to train and we had difficulty in getting some of our kennels dismantled which is why we decided to sell one of the blocks.

"On May 19, I met with the buyer of one and noticed another had been dismantled but thought it had been done by someone I had asked to do it.

"We know it was not the buyer of the kennels which means the thieves had to have been on site before to dismantle them and then to take them away because when I went back the following morning, they had gone despite the driveway gate still being locked."

Replacement costs for the kennels are £5,000 and Mr Coates says that he has been informed by his insurance company that because he rents, he was only covered for contents and the kennels are classed as building meaning he is not insured for the loss.

Police are investigating the theft and said enquiries were "ongoing".

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: "Enquiries are ongoing and police would like to hear from anyone in the area from 10am on May 19 and 10am on May 20.

"Call 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously if preferred."