A pony trap used to help disadvantaged children and adults that was stolen in a burglary has been found by police in South Gloucestershire and returned to its owner.
Small Strides, a community interest company based in Keynsham, provides equine interaction to help those needing to improve their mental and physical well-being.
Director of the organisation Amy Lewis said she was left devastated when thieves broke into her Wick farm earlier this month.
They took the trap, a child’s bike and, most importantly, a horse trailer worth around £3,000 that is needed to transport her Shetland pony to schools and groups.
She said the burglars got through three locks, including a padlocked gate and a wheel lock, to steal the trailer.
“It feels like it was a targeted burglary and they had possibly been watching,” the volunteer director said.
“We have been going since January and we really have been building everything up and so this is just devastating.”
After a public appeal for information, police received a tip-off about possible stolen property in Stoke Gifford.
Officers went to a field in Curtis Lane on Friday Saturday 21st August and found the trap.
They identified it as stolen, traced the owner and arranged to return it the next day. However, the valuable horse trailer is still missing.
Mrs Lewis said: “It’s wonderful to have the trap returned but we really need to find the trailer or replace it.
“We’re going to have to start fundraising for a new one because we really need it for people’s therapy.”
Pictured above are the police team involved, from left to right PCs Paul Calderwood, Jamie Shiels and Melanie Downton with Amy Lewis and daughter Niamh.