HUNDREDS of pounds worth of damage was caused to land and equipment when thieves took a tractor from a field on Whitedown Lane, and went on a tour of destruction.
The tractor had been left on the land at 8 am on Wednesday last week with a grass cutter fitted, ready for work to be done on the field over the weekend.
The vehicle was found severely damaged, abandoned in fields just off of Chawton Park Road at 6-40 pm last Friday, having had its battery and fuel stolen.
The vehicle looks to have been taken for a joy ride, causing large amounts of damage on the way.
It was driven through a small brick wall in order to gain access to Ackender Wood, and was also driven through a fence in order to gain access to an adjoining field. Also, sections of grass were torn up by the tyres, and around 100 sapling trees that were planted in the adjoining field were driven over and destroyed. The costs of repairing the wall and fence, and replacing the trees have not yet been estimated, but damage to the tractor's radiator and hydraulic arm will total around £900.
The battery, worth £60, was also stolen along with 60 litres of red diesel.
The tractor's owner, Mr Roy Vincent, said: "There was the damage to the radiator and the hydraulic arm, but there were other parts taken off and thrown away, such as the air filter cap. The vehicle will cost about £900 to repair, and because it does not go on the road, it is not insured.
"I know exactly where the tractor went because I followed its tracks. It ended up on land belonging to the old Treloars Hospital, which was inhabited by gypsies at the time, and they left the next day.
"I am not happy about this at all. Farmers are having enough problems as it is without things like this happening."