Arsonists are believed to have caused around £20,000 worth of damage at Monkton Park Golf Course in Chippenham.

Police and fire emergency crews were called to the pitch-and-putt course on Tuesday after a blaze started in a storage unit containing two industrial mowers.

Owners Peter and Wendy Claridge were called out shortly after 9pm to find the garage devastated by the fire.

“The garage was more or less gone – it was completely burnt out,”said Mr Claridge. “It’s not the best situation.

“No one has been in the garage for two weeks so it’s not like a hot machine has been put away; it’s got to have been triggered by somebody – it’s not good.

“We are a bit frustrated really and there is a lot that we have got to sort out; this is something we really could have done without.”

Police are appealing for witnesses or to anyone who might have information about the blaze to come forward.

Despite the damage, Mr Claridge insists the course will remain open.

“The damage is not really in the way but I need to make the area safe,” he said.

“The only good thing is that the grass isn’t growing much at the moment, but obviously we have got lots of work to do to rectify the situation.”

They reckon that it will cost at least £20,000 to replace the mowers and to repair other damage.

Mr Claridge and his wife Wendy have been running the nine-hole pitch-and-putt course in Monkton Park for six years and lease the grounds from Wiltshire Council.

The next problem for the couple is finding a new storage unit before they can replace the mowing machinery, which they need to cut the grass on the green and fairway.

If you have any information please contact the police on 0845 408 7000 or, anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.