THIEVES have stolen the catalytic converter from a new van belonging to a Wilton charity.

The van, an Iveco Daily 35C12 Luton, was parked off North Street, Wilton when the theft took place between 3pm yesterday and 8am this morning.

The vehicle belongs to The Burnbake Trust and is used to transport furniture to and from the charity’s Wilton warehouse for the benefit of less well-off and vulnerable people.

Charity manger Rita Maple said: “We feel so sick about this at the moment. It took us 18 months to raise the money for it and it was only delivered in November. The sign-writing had been finished on it the day before.”

She said the damage would probably cost about £500 to fix. “This is the first time in 50 years that something like this has happened,” she added.