AN ANNUAL clear-up of a massive housing estate could be shelved after thieves stole vital cleaning equipment worth thousands of pounds.

Neighbourhood wardens may now have to scrap plans to blitz graffiti, chewing gum, grime and litter in a Southampton community during July.

Raiders took the £11,500 pressure washer after targeting a workshop where the machine was being serviced ahead of the summer clean-up in Millbrook.

The state-of-the-art washer was bought with cash from the Outer Shirley Regeneration fund.

Now council bosses are appealing for the thieves to return the trailer-sized equipment, one of only three in the city, to the community where it belongs.

Richard Castle, project officer for the city's neighbourhood wardens, said: "This was bought with money from the Outer Shirley fund just two-and-a-half years ago and it's used regularly, especially in the summer. We were looking to have it up and running next month.

"It even had a lock and clamp on it when it was stolen. This is not a personal, private piece of equipment. It's something purchased specifically to improve the neighbourhood and clearly there will be an impact if we lose it.

"It's a very expensive, unusual piece of kit and I would urge anyone who's seen it to contact police."

The washer, which weighs about a tonne and contains its own water tank, was stolen during a raid on Elan Sales Ltd, Great-bridge Industrial Estate, Budds Lane, Romsey.

Anyone with information about the theft, or anyone who may have seen the washer, should call Romsey police on 0845 045 4545 or phone the anonymous Crimestop-pers number on 0800 555111.