An Irvine pool club was broken into with cash and a quantity of alcohol stolen.

8-Ball Pool club in Townhead was broken into overnight, with its fruit machines smashed open and bar raided.

The business owner has thanked customers for their support after the raid, which occured between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

Craig McCready told the Times: "When you put your life into something, pay a massive gamble, and somebody just comes in and does that, it's devastating.

"They smashed up the fruit machines and took all the money and took all my spirits – I'd just got a delivery that day so lost a lot of money in that.

"The person who broke in, there's plenty of things I'd like to say but probably can't, but we're a hard working family trying to make a dream come true, and these people are just scum and don't care. Whoever did it looked professional watching it on CCTV."

"Last night one was of the busiest nights we've had after reopening, I think folk had just came to support the club. It was quite emotional and overwhelming."

Police are now appealing for anyone with information on the theft or who saw anything suspicious to get in touch.

A Police Scotland spokespersan said: "Police can confirm that they have received a report of a business premises at Townhead, Irvine having been broken into overnight between Tuesday, March 5 and Wednesday, March 6. 

"At this time a quantity of cash has been stolen from the premise, enquiries are currently ongoing to identify those responsible.

"Police would request that anybody that may have any information or were in the area and saw anything suspicious to contact police on 101 quoting incident number 0691 of 06/03/2019."