Charity van stolen from outside theatre

A charity helping vulnerable children across Nottinghamshire says its work has been hampered after its van was stolen.

Forget-Me-Notts uses the van to deliver beds to children whose families are unemployed, homeless or escaping domestic violence.

The vehicle was taken while parked outside Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton on Saturday as Cyrilyn Moore from the charity and her husband watched their children in a show, meaning the charity had to cancel all referrals for this week.

Derbyshire Police said it was investigating and has appealed for witnesses.

Moore said the van was white and unmarked due to the sensitivity of the charity's work with vulnerable people, but she hoped members of the public might be able to help trace its whereabouts.

She told the BBC it will cost the charity about £12,000 to replace the van, which will have knock-on effects for its work around the county.

"It's a pretty sad way to start the week," she said.

"We went in to watch the show, thinking that the van was going to be used to take down the staging afterwards, and after the show we got out to find the van was not there.

"We need a van to be able to collect furniture from people that are donating it, or install beds into people's homes, and we use the van for lots of other things within the life of the charity... it is huge that we can't do that."

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