Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Charity bus stolen

Kathryn Ryan
23/ 2/2006

CHILDREN, the disabled and elderly people are to go without after a charity's minibus was stolen.

Salford Community Transport has a fleet of five minibuses which it uses to take people out on day trips and give them easier access to local services.

Joanne Sugden, project manager with the charity, said: "Lots of local groups and organisations use us because it's low cost and it means groups that aren't funded can get out into the community.

"We do things like day trips for older people, school trips and we work with groups like Mencap.

"We only have a small fleet, so this has really damaged the work we can do. The people who stole this vehicle don't realise the consequences of what they've done.

"This week it was going to be used to take young people out to play schemes during half-term.

"It usually gets used by leisure groups to go on healthy walks to Clifton Country Park and the local early years centres regularly use it to go swimming or trampolining.

"The kids won't be going to their usual leisure events and it's going to have a knock-on effect on all the services we provide to the community."

The charity has now been forced to cancel work that was booked in for the minibus and if it is not returned it does not have the funds to replace it.

The thief or thieves used bolt cutters to cut through chains securing the gated entrance to the charity's yard on Oldfield Road, Ordsall, before making off in the van sometime between 6.30pm and 9pm on Thursday, February 16.

The white Ford Transit 16-seater van has a V registration and was recently resprayed and refurbished.

Joanne added: "Please give us our bus back.

"If anyone knows the whereabouts of the van or knows anything about it please come forward.

"Our services help the local community and this is preventing us from doing that."

Police confirmed they had received reports of a stolen minibus.

Anyone who has any information is urged to call Greater Manchester Police on: 0161 872 5050.