A samba group from Edinburgh have launched a fundraiser after most of their instruments, including 40 drums, were stolen.
The Edinburgh Samba School, a performance group and charity based at Tollcross, were left devastated after their van containing instruments worth thousands of pounds was stolen from the Blackhall area last week.
The band had been booked to play a major gig at the International Samba Festival in Germany this Friday and now face having to borrow instruments.
With a busy summer lineup ahead, the band have now launched fundraiser in a bid to raise £3,500.
The school said: "This has been a devastating blow to TESS, and with less than a week to go before we perform at the International Samba Festival in Coburg (Germany) this has hit us hard.
"With limited resources and very little time we are desperately trying to raise funds to enable us to continue and function as normally as we can with a busy summer season ahead of us.
"Whilst we are in discussions with our insurers it is anticipated that any money we may receive for our van and contents is unlikely to cover anywhere near the value of what we have lost."
The school have already raised over £1,000, with one writing: "So gutted to hear about the van getting stolen. Hope that this crowdfunder will help get you back up and running."
You can donate on their justgiving page here.
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