STAFF at a Hampshire charity are devastated after a minibus that was used to take pensioners on outings was stolen, stripped and dumped.

The Red Cross van was taken from Great Well Drive, Romsey, before being abandoned in a field on the edge of town.

Branch director John Derben said: "It's disgusting that someone has done this as the Red Cross sign was on the van, so how could anyone take it.

"They broke into it, hot-wired it, drove it to the edge of town and stripped it completely.

"We are quite short of vehicles at the best of times."

The 12-seater minibus was mainly used to take pensioners to social clubs.

Mr Derben said workers had been afraid to tell them about the incident in case they got too upset.

"Staff have been very upset and we've tried to keep it from the older people as much as we can," he said.

"We've managed to get around it by getting hold of vehicles from other areas, but it has not been easy as the bus was used every day.

"What has made me so angry is that someone has taken a treasured vehicle and trashed it."

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened on November 20, should ring Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545