AN award winning group aiming to help disadvantaged young people as been left heartbroken after callous thieves stole their minibus and then torched it after taking out sporting equipment.

Police say the minibus, belonging to Changing Lives was stolen from outside Reedings Junior School in Bullfields, Sawbridgeworth, between 7pm on Friday (March 10) and 11am on Saturday (March 11). There were reports it was seen travelling along Harlow Road, Harlow, at around 9pm.

An appeal went out to try to track down the van, but on Tuesday (March 14) it was found burnt out in Fern Hill Lane, Harlow.

Sports equipment, including for football, netball and golf, had been taken out – as had its engine.

Chief Executive David Simmons said: “The van wasn’t worth much, but it’s the amount of equipment we lost and that we’ve had to hold our operations.”

Daisy Howard has launched an online appeal to replace the sports equipment, which included cricket bats, stumps, helmets, batting pads/gloves, a bowling machine, football boots, training balls and foldable goals.

To donate to the appeal:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-repurchase-equipment-for-changing-lives