A SURFING photographer from Hatherleigh fears his livelihood may be in ruins after thieves stole £10,000 worth of specialist camera equipment from his car.

Peter Adams has been a surfing photographer for the past seven years. His pictures have appeared in Britain?s biggest surfing magazine, Wavelength, and in European and Australian surfing publications.

He said all the equipment stolen was specialist photography gear, including Canon cameras and lenses, flash units, binoculars and waterproof housing which allows him to take underwater shots.

Peter said the theft occurred outside his home near Hatherleigh some time between 7pm lastSaturday and 6.45am last Sunday.

The photographer went to his Peugeot 306 first thing on Sunday morning to head off to a shoot but found his car had been broken into and all his gear taken.

Peter said he had a vital job in Scotland for which he would need his equipment. ?I have got a trip to the Orkneys coming up in a couple of weeks and I really need my own gear to get the best shots for that,? he said.

The theft could not have come at a worse time. Peter said his insurance had just expired and he was in the process of arranging new cover, which unfortunately meant none of his £10,000 equipment was insured.

He said: ?My whole livelihood depends on me getting my stuff back.

?I can?t afford to replace everything I have lost, so I would probably have to give up photography.?

Peter was able to buy the equipment to turn his passion for surfing into a career thanks to a Prince?s Trust loan and Objective 1 funding.

His only source of comfort was that the thieves did not steal his surfboard. He has lived in Hatherleigh for around 18 months and is a frequent surfer at Bude.

Peter is offering a £500 reward for anyone who can give information leading to the recovery of his equipment.

Police are investigating the theft and are conducting forensic tests on items found discarded near the vehicle. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Hatherleigh Beat Manager PC Di Maguire on 08452 777444.