Seventies rockers Together have had all their sound equipment stolen after their farewell gig.

The four-piece, who won telly talent show New Faces in 1974 and have toured with Mud and Showaddywaddy, have lost £14,000 of amps, effects pedals and other gear.

Lead guitarist Ray Todd said: "It's a hell of a blow. This is a lifetime's worth of gear that's gone and we won't be able to replace it now."

The thieves, thought to be a gang, struck in the middle of the night at Mr Todd's Lancing home on May 8.

They broke a lock on his Volkswagon Transporter van before making off with the gear, leaving only two speaker stands behind.

Mr Todd said: "To be honest I can't believe somebody didn't hear them breaking into the van.

"They must have had a van with them to cart it all away and there must have been three or four of them doing it all.

"The point is somebody must know something about where it has gone.

"We just want it back. The band has decided to call it a day because we're all getting a bit older now and it's quite hard work lugging it all around.

"When you're on stage for two hours it's an amazing feeling but the rest of the work can be hard.

"But we still want this gear back because it's got treasured memories attached to it."

Together formed in 1964 in Brighton under the name The Dolphins.

The band's career has taken them from the streets of the Whitehawk estate to sharing the same stage as The Beatles in Hamburg and just about every working men's club in Britain.

They hung up their instruments on May 5 after a gig at Brighton Labour Club, Elm Grove on May 5.

Mr Todd has emailed music contacts across the country and contacted shops like Cash Converters warning them that the equipment may be offered for sale.

The gear taken includes a Mesa Boogie Nomad 55 212 combo amplifier, an Allen and Heath CP12 powered mixer 500watts stereo, a Huges and Kettner ATS 120 amplifier with a furry covering and scuffed edges.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.