A Barmouth paddleboarding business has praised the community spirit of the town after thieves threatened to put them out of business.

The devastated owners of SUP Barmouth, a stand-up paddleboard company set up five years ago, feared for the business’s future and that they would have to let customers down when they discovered on Monday morning that 11 paddleboards had been stolen.

But kind-hearted people in the Barmouth area have rallied round to lend Kirsty Jones and Russell Courtney equipment to carry on.

“The community bailed us out big time,” they said. “They offered the use of their boards allowing us the chance to put smiles back on our, and more importantly, our customers’ faces.

“2020 continues to be a strange old year and yes, other far more appropriate words do spring to mind, but for us, in the end, life is our little community in Barmouth.

“Thank you all again for the kind messages and thank you for your use of boards and offers of boards.”

Kirsty told the Cambrian News that 10 identical O’Shea 10’6 inflatable blue and yellow stand-up paddleboards and one Tiki 10’6 inflatable black and blue stand-up board have been taken, as well as six paddles.

“Whoever has taken them has ruined everyone’s fun,” she said.

“We’ve got bookings for kid’s clubs, birthdays and family celebrations and now we’ve got to call them to cancel if we can’t find other boards in time,” Kirsty said following the theft.

“At the end of the day we’re just a couple of mates who set this up part-time five years ago and, like everyone, we’ve been affected by Covid.

“We’re coming to the end of the end of a very rubbish season and now this has happened.

“We’re gutted and we’ve got bookings so we’re trying to source some boards to keep those going.”

Luckily the community did rally round and bookings have been able to go ahead, but Kirsty and Russell, who believe the equipment was stolen on Sunday night, would like to get their equipment back.

Appealing for information on their Facebook page on Monday, they said: “Some really nice people have stolen our SUP Barmouth boards from a locked yacht club compound in Barmouth.

“Please, any locals, could you save and store CCTV from last night (Sunday) through to this morning.

“CCTV was operational within the compound so hopefully it may help catch these scumbags.”

North Wales Police confirmed it is investigating the theft which took place overnight between 7pm on Sunday and 6.30am Monday and asks anyone with information to call 101, referencing Y135670.