THE charity determined to breathe new life into theAmmanValley railwayline has seen its efforts hit the buffers after thieves stole power tools used for track clearing.

Staff at the Amman Valley Railway Society charity shop at Heol caeGurwen in Gwaun cae Gurwen – where the tools were stored – believe items valued at more than £3,000 were taken during the October 31 raid. “They took power saws, chainsaws, a wood chipper, drills and a petrol hedge trimmer,” said society member Gareth Beynon. “These tools were our bread and butter, as we used them to clear the railway line.”

The theft has hit the charity with a doublewhammyafter it beganraising fundsby selling cleared wood as logs.

“It is something thatwehadonlygot into recently,” addded Mr Beynon. “The wood chipper, which we only bought a week before the break-in, was part of that as we hoped to use it to produce mulch for gardeners.

“As a charity we are always looking at ways that we can generate money. Selling cleared wood and mulch worked well, but the theft has put an end to that.”

The burglary has also had an impact on the area’s jobseekers. “We take unemployed people to give them experience, but without any tools there is nothing for them to do, so that has had to stop too,” said Gareth, who is urging the public to watch for individuals offering tools for sale.

“The thieves took high value items presumably to sell on,” he said. “Wehope anyone who is approached will contact the police.”

The society is nowhoping residents will donate unwanted power tools as replacements.