THE county's largest cadet squadron have had their new gazebo stolen after volunteering hours of their time to fundraise for it.

The biggest squadron in the Thames Valley - 2267 Brize Norton Squadron ATC - hoped to use their new £600 gazebo at the base's flagship 'families day' today.

But after the 100-strong cadet force, made up of 12-20 year olds, gave up hours and hours to fundraise for the tent - they discovered it had been taken.

The squadron had been using an old hangar to temporarily store its equipment before moving to a new building on site next year.

When Squadron Leader Colin Burrell opened up the unit on Thursday night ahead of today's event he found it had gone.

He said: "The cadets are hugely disappointed and angry that someone would go and steal something they volunteered for hours and even days to fundraise for.

"They gave up their own time, packing bags in Asda and Morrisons and doing a whole host of fundraising activities - everyone chipped in over about a year.

He added: "It has to be someone who had access to the base, it's not necessarily or likely to be a serviceman as there is a lot of building work going on.

"We hope to spread this and that whoever has taken it will return it to us."

The squadron regularly attend village fetes and other local events where they encourage more youngsters to sign up and even show off their mobile flight simulator.

They have only used their gazebo once since they bought it and it could have been taken anytime over the past few months.