CALLOUS thieves have stolen foodbank donations meant for the poor from a collection point at a Worcestershire church.

The offenders raided a plastic box full of the charitable offerings outside St Mary’s and All Saints Church in Hampton Lovett, near Droitwich, depriving vulnerable families of the vital supplies such as pasta and tinned vegetables.

Generous members of the congregation had only just begun donating the food items before the thieves struck and the “distressing” incident has left church members feeling “shocked”.

June Heaven, church warden at St Mary’s and All Saints, said: “It has been terrible and none of us can believe it has happened.

“To take food that is obviously for charitable purposes and meant for people who cannot afford to feed themselves and are in dire straits is very mean.

“Since the theft we have persevered with collections in the same way and thankfully we have not been targeted again.

“But the number of donations made has dropped and everybody seems afraid to give now, which is a real shame.”

Ruth Yardley, another church warden, similarly expressed her sadness that the donations had been taken.

The food items were being collected in a plastic box left in the church’s unlocked porch, an approach designed to enable members of the public to drop-off gifts at any time.

However thieves seized on this lack of security and took the container’s contents before they could be donated to Droitwich Spa Foodbank and distributed.

The foodbank, which is run in partnership with Churches Together in Droitwich, was set up in July and has been donated four tonnes of food which has helped feed 58 adults and 32 children.

All recipients of the food parcels are referred by frontline care agencies such as housing associations, schools, social workers and doctors’ surgeries to ensure the need is genuine.

Rev Jane Wilson, who helps coordinate the charitable initiative, said: “It is sad that food donations given in good faith and meant for people in crisis have been taken.

“However this is an isolated incident and we hope that local groups will continue to collect food for the foodbank.”

West Mercia Police were informed of the crime, which took place sometime between Wednesday, September 24, at 9am and Saturday, September 27, at 9am, but with no witnesses and no CCTV coverage have not been able to catch the offenders.

Officers have appealed for members of the public who may have seen anything suspicious to call 101 quoting reference 0166S290914.