CALLOUS thieves who snatched a trailer containing hundreds of pounds worth of irreplaceable medieval equipment from a village near York have been branded as "Neanderthals".

A complete medieval road show, including tents, a field kitchen and children's play equipment, was stolen from the Yorkshire Museum of Farming at Murton Park, near York.

The equipment, which had taken ten years to gather, was contained in a new £2,500 Ifor Williams trailer, secured to a building and farm equipment at the centre.

Thieves used heavy-duty cutting equipment to break through a secure gate and three sets of chains and padlocks securing the load.

Site manager David Thirlwall said the theft, in the early hours of Sunday morning, had left staff distraught.

He said: "We have accepted that we won't see the trailer again, but the Neanderthals who did this do not want our stores.

"The really frustrating thing is that these people have stolen something that gives thousands of kids and families a lot of pleasure.

"We know we will not see the trailer again, but hope that the thieves have dumped all the equipment, which they are unlikely to have any use for."

Workers attended a medieval living history day at Knaresborough Castle yesterday with what little equipment was left, and a planned educational trip to a Leeds school today had to be cancelled.

Items contained in the trailer included a pavilion medieval marquee, four large wooden benches, tables with the Yorkshire Museum logo stamped on them, padded children's armour, helmets and spears, and a full medieval field kitchen.

Sgt Colin Ventress of York Police confirmed that the theft of a two-axle box trailer from Yorkshire Farming Museum had been reported to the police.

Anyone who has any information, or who may have seen any of the equipment, should contact York Police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 14:52 Monday, June 24, 2002