An Edinburgh children's charity has been left devastated after its minibus was stolen with a key fob purchased online.
North Edinburgh Childcare in Leith have launched an appeal to raise funds for their service after discovering the van had been stolen.
And it has been a double blow for the group, who provide affordable childcare for parents in poverty, after they were forced to scrap their people carrier due to vandalism.
The charity was told it was likely to van had been targeted, with a key fog purchased online used to steal it.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, the charity's general manager, Theresa Allison, said the impact on their work had been devastating.
"Our core charitable purpose is to support parents to lift themselves out of poverty by making their childcare affordable to them so that in work pays.
"Just a few weeks ago now we had our people carrier so badly vandalised that our insurers had to write it off then on top of that we have now had our mini bus stolen leaving us without any transport whatsoever for transporting the children in our care," she said.
Hitting out at the thieves, she added: "I find it despicable that people would steal from a charity the impact of this is being felt by people who are considered to be the most vulnerable in our society."
An online fundraising appeal has so far raised £230, but an estimated £32,000 will be needed to replace the minibus.
"Although the police are currently looking for it, we are under no illusion that it is highly unlikely that we will have it recovered," the group said.
Police Scotland are understood to be investigating the incident.
You can donate to the appeal here.
