A farm which offers pony trips for children has been forced to cancel its riding events after a collection of irreplaceable saddles, harnesses and brasses was stolen.

Thieves raided the tack room at Fishers Farm Park in Wisborough Green, near Billingshurst, taking up to £15,000 worth of equipment.

Until replacements are found, the 18 horses and ponies cannot be ridden or exercised.

Manager Melanie Ware has also had to cancel the shire horse tug-of-war and summer fetes around the county where the massive horses were due to be a key attraction.

The thieves struck during Saturday night but the alarm was not raised until Sunday.

Ms Ware said: "We wondered why the barn door was open on Sunday and went in to discover the tack room virtually empty.

"They also took a lifetime's collection of brasses, which had been put together by one man in the village who donated them to us after he retired."

Thieves gained access by cutting through two padlocked gates and two bolted doors.

They took 15 saddles and bridles, three full sets of harnesses, bridles and reins for shire horses, 10 riding hats and 20 rare brasses.

Families and youngsters from schools all over Sussex use the award-winning visitor's attraction during the summer.

The farm, which combines educational farmyard visits with theatre and adventure play for children, was named tourist attraction of the year by the South-East Tourist Board last year.

Ms Ware said: "It's such a bad time as the summer holiday season is just taking off.

"There are still lots of other events at the farm but there will be a lot of disappointed children who would like to ride."

She believes the thieves must have visited the farm before as they knew exactly where to go.

She said: "It adds to the frustration to think they probably came here as visitors and we were very friendly to them.

"It's most likely the tack was stolen to order and has already been shipped on the first boat over to Europe.

"We have insurance but the tack is so expensive we're hoping to replace some of it with second-hand gear."

Anyone with information about the theft can call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.