VANDALS could force a thriving sports club which caters for children and adults across West Somerset to relocate from its Williton base.

The Bowmen of Danesfield is celebrating its tenth anniversary teaching the art of archery.

But after being targeted in a string of crimes, club organisers have launched an appeal to find a more secure site from which to operate.

The Bowmen are currently based at Danesfield Middle School but senior coach Doug Human said a CCTV system - paid for by the club and covering its equipment containers - had been temporarily lost since new drama studios had been built on the site.

Within weeks of the security cameras going down, the containers were broken into, with thieves stealing three compound bows, each worth between £150 and £200.

A fortnight ago the clubs trailer - used to offer taster sessions to local schools, at public events and to charities - was targeted by vandals who scrawled graffiti over it and last Saturday it was attacked again.

This time it was malicious, horrid and included death threats, said Doug.

We pay the school over £1,700 a year to use their grounds and the gym during the winter months but it hurts us greatly when we are the victims of crime, again and again.

His wife Christine, who also helps run the club, said the latest graffiti contained foul language and had only partially been removed before club leaders took the trailer to an event this week introducing a group of disadvantaged children from Bristol to archery.

We managed to park it at an angle where it wasnt too evident but you could still see the graffiti if you looked closely, she said.

We would be very disappointed to have to leave Williton but we may have no choice if this continues.

The bows that were stolen were bought by the club because they are too expensive for children to buy themselves and we now have some very disappointed youngsters who are unable to shoot.

Christine said the bows were security marked and the club had even offered a reward for their return but they were still missing.

The club, which has 25 senior members and a 30-strong junior section, is looking for around a two-acre site, preferably in the Williton or surrounding area on which it could locate its two locked containers and shoot during the summer months.

In the longer term, it would hope to be able to put up a temporary building on the land, which would need good access for vehicles.

Anyone who can help the club can contact Doug and Christine on 01984 634471.