HEARTLESS thieves have put two crucial charity vans off the road by stealing catalytic converters.

Crooks ripped apart the two Luton vans owned by St Helena Hospice which had been parked outside their store at the Angora Business Park in Peartree Road, Stanway.

Area retail manager Tim Morgan arrived for work on Monday to find both vehicles with side windows smashed, bonnets open and exhaust pipes on the floor.

Charity bosses believe it happened at roughly 1am.

Chief executive Mark Jarman-Howe said: "“We are gutted someone would cause criminal damage and steal from a local charity in this way and we apologise to our supporters because services will inevitably be disrupted."

Head of retail Ian Daniels said: “We will do our best to get both vans up and running as soon as possible but to those people who have booked a furniture collection this week, we will have to reschedule.

“The vans travel around the region on a daily basis moving donations between the various different stores across North Essex.

"With this unlikely to happen this week, it does mean that retail stock could be affected and we just ask that supporters bear with us.”

Anyone with information should call Essex Police on 101.