THIEVES have stolen a brand new £25,000 van used by charity shop workers to deliver furniture to the needy.

Devastated volunteers at the Sue Ryder Care shop, in West Road, Westcliff – which helps raise cash for the charity’s hospices – have been left counting the cost.

The raiders also stole a safe containing £160 cash, the entire profit made on Saturday, plus its £50 cash float.

Assistant manager Kathy Vangalis said: “It makes you feel very sad to think people would steal from a charity.

“It’s really inconvenient as well. We had 12 deliveries we were due to make on Monday and 24 on Tuesday.

“Things like this make you realise a lot of people just don’t understand the meaning of the word charity.”

Once inside, the thieves searched the shop and found the keys to the white VW Crafter tail-lift van, registration WG10 LLZ, which was parked out the front.

They grabbed the safe and cash before fleeing in the van.

The charity is now looking into how much it will cost to hire a temporary van while the insurance is sorted out.

Mrs Vangalis added: “All organisations like us are struggling because of the recession and ultimately this will all come out of our profit.”

Police probing the theft were carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the area yesterday.

Investigating officer PC Ricky Rodd, of Leigh police, said: “Has this van turned up near your house? If so, please contact police immediately.”

Witnesses to the theft, between 5pm on Saturday and 10am Sunday, can contact PC Rodd on 0300 3334444.