CHILDREN who became a music sensation, despite setting up their band in one of the country's most deprived areas, face seeing their dreams left ruined by cruel thieves.

Thorntree Juvenile Jazz Band, in Thorntree, Middlesbrough, had 24 instruments and 18 costumes taken some time between Sunday night and Monday morning.

Police believe the burglars broke into the garage of a house in Midville Walk, Netherfields, Middlesbrough, specifically to get the instruments.

It has now emerged that unless the members of Thorntree Juvenile Jazz Band can get replacement uniforms and instruments in the next two weeks they will be out of the World Juvenile Jazz Band Championships - and forced to only parade locally.

Band chairman Mark Bailey said: "We have already had to cancel this weekend's march out because of the lack of instruments and uniforms.

"There is another world qualifier on July 1 and if we don't make that we will not qualify.'' The band was only formed in 2004, yet they won five individual world championship titles in 2005 and three last year.

The children raised the £1,000 needed to buy their uniforms and equipment by packing shoppers' groceries at supermarket check-outs and through other fund raising activities.

Mr Bailey said about the thieves: "I don't know what they get out of it. They don't realise the devastation they have left behind.

"Okay, we can live with them breaking into the garage and the damage that caused but they could have left the instruments and uniforms.

"The uniforms are no good to anyone else. A lot of the children are from single parent families and the mums can't speak about it, because it is so upsetting.'' Mr Bailey is concerned that the distinctive navy and turquoise uniforms, which cost the band so much effort, will have been ignominiously dumped by the thieves.

"It's unbelievable,'' said Mr Bailey. "If the band does not qualify for the world championships they won't be able to march in competitions.

"We will only be able to take part in local competitions. We will not be able to compete against bands from Wales and Scotland.'' He has visited second hand shops to see if the thieves have tried to sell them the stolen equipment, while he has asked the North East Association of Juvenile Jazz Bands to tip off member bands about the theft and possible attempts being made by the thieves to sell on the instruments.

The instruments consisted of drums, maracas, kazoos, toms and maces.

In 2000 Thorntree was found to be one of the ten most deprived areas in the country, according to a national Index of Deprivation compiled by the Government.

The area was suffering from high unemployment and people were experiencing a poor standard of living.

By 2005 residents on the estate was suffering from unemployment as high as 61 per cent, according to Pertemps Employment Alliance - an organisation delivering Government-funded initiatives.

Anyone who has information about the burglary is asked to call PC Paul Callender on 01642-303126.