Man's golf buggy stolen and set on fire

A disabled golfer may have to give up teeing off after a thief took his golf buggy from a Norfolk golf club and went on a joy ride.

A disabled golfer may have to give up teeing off after a thief took his golf buggy from a Norfolk golf club and went on a joy ride.

Buggy owner Kenneth Darby has been left devastated after the abandoned vehicle was then set on fire and badly damaged.

Without the buggy the 84-year-old will find it impossible to play a round at Gorleston Golf Club in Warren Road where he has been a member for 35 years.

Mr Darby, from Bradwell, is only fit enough to stand up to tee off and used the �1,200 buggy and his friends to take him to where his ball landed to play his next shot.

On Sunday the buggy was found abandoned about a mile and half away from the golf club in Woodfarm Close by Gorleston Football Club's Emerald Park ground.

Mr Darby, who has arthritis and knee and hip problems, had arranged for the buggy to be collected yesterday but on Easter Monday the dumped buggy was set on fire.

It means Mr Darby may have to spend about �1,200 to get a replacement buggy - money he can ill afford - or give up his favourite pastime.

An upset Mr Darby said: 'I feel very rough about it to tell you the truth. I am wondering at this stage what to do.'

David James, the manager of Gorleston Golf Club, said that in his 37 years at the club he had never heard of a golf buggy being stolen from it.

The golf buggy was set on fire at about 7.20pm on Monday with one fire engine from Great Yarmouth taking about 20 minutes to put it out.

Anyone with information about the golf buggy theft should call Gorleston police on 0845 4564567.