YOUTH club members were left “gutted” after thieves stole two flatscreen televisions it took them a whole year to save up for.

Youngsters at the Tiverton Youth Centre, in Bolham Road helped to raise nearly £1,000 through fundraising events to buy the state- of-the-art TVs.

And organisers say one of the centre’s main attractions was the chance to play video games on the giant screens.

But just two months after they arrived,  they disappeared into the hands of burglars who broke into the building overnight between Monday, February 15, and Tuesday, February 16.

Youth worker Avril Machen described youngsters and staff as “gutted” after they discovered the TVs had vanished.

“These TVs can not be replaced, as there are no funds to do this,”  she said.

“We do not have any TVs so young people who attend the youth centre can no longer use the PS3 and Wii computer games.”

She estimated the value of the two sets as nearly £1,000 and said  it would take around 12 months to be able to purchase new sets. Despite their relative value, the items were too small to be covered by the centre’s insurance policy. Youth workers felt Nintendo Wii and PS3 games were good for developing group work and interaction between the regular centre users.

Mrs Machen said some of the youngsters had never previously had the opportunity to play on these consoles because they are too expensive their families to purchase.  She said: “We have been saving really hard in the past year to get these  for young people, so that we can encourage more group work, and we have only had them for two months.”

She said if anyone had been offered a television to buy, or had any information on where they might be, they should call police.

Regular attender Lesha, aged 13,  said: “It makes me feel angry, because we will not get these goods back and we don’t have enough money to get more.”

Keeley, aged 12, said: “The youth club is a good place for young children who don’t have the chance to play on the newest consoles. But now none of us can play on them.”

The games were popular with older teens too. Jazmin, 16, said: “It makes me feel angry to know that someone has burgled our centre. This has taken a resource from young people.”

Sgt Rob Curtis, neighbourhood team leader for Tiverton, said: “We are hugely disappointed by this crime, particularly for the young people who use the centre. Whoever did this has no regard for the young people of Tiverton.”

County councillor Des Hannon said: “Thieving from our kids is totally out of order. We cannot allow mindless idiots to ruin that for a few quid. Someone knows who did this. They are utterly without scruples. Where’s next? Schools? The hospital?”

The Alba televisions — one 26ins and the other 32ins — have been ultraviolet marked with postcode EX16 6SG and the initials TYC and serial number details retained.

Anyone with information should contact town police on 08452 777444.