A smash and grab burglary in the early hours of this morning has left members of Cirencester Golf Club reeling.

Just after midnight three men broke into the club and stole irreplaceable trophies worth over £40,000 - just days before their annual prize giving ceremony.

Club manager Richard Collishaw said that the thieves would probably sell the club's prized possessions for scrap.

"They knew exactly what they wanted. There were about 40 or 50 trophies in there and we now have just three left," he said.

"Some of the very old trophies going back to 100 years. We can't replace them.

"They will probably break them up and sell them for scrap."

Richard said that it looked like the men got into the building via a fire exit, before smashing the trophy cabinet glass and stealing at least 40 of the club's prized winners trophies wrapped in a tablecloth.

They fled the scene after just a few minutes in a black Audi, police are understood to have missed the criminals by minutes and are currently examining CCTV footage from the club.

"Police told me that they think that the car may have been stolen," Richard said.

"The trophies are kept in an upstairs room. They knew exactly where to go and had perhaps been in before.

"They are worth over £40,000, but we can't replace them. In about 10 days time we have our trophy presentation night and we have just three trophies left. It is very sad.

"I've been here for 10 years and this is the fifth time we have been burgled. It is pretty depressing," Richard added.

The club have had a few pieces returned to them, after a dog walker spotted a few discarded tankards in a bush.