CHARITY shop workers were left flabbergasted after opportunistic thieves stole stock worth £500.

The clothes, which were intended for the Red Cross shop in King Charles Place, St John’s, Worcester, were taken from a driveway in Toronto Close, Lower Wick, early in the morning.

“All that stock could have done so much good,” said Maggie Duffield, manager of Ledbury’s Red Cross shop.

Mrs Duffield had left the clothes tucked up against the garage as she left for work so they could be picked up by the St John’s manager, Barbara Moore.

Mrs Moore had called the day before to ask Mrs Duffield for help, as she was struggling to fill the shelves of her shop.

Mrs Duffield left the house – and the clothes – at 6.45am and they were gone by the time Mrs Moore arrived at 8.02am.

“A neighbour saw the bags still there at 7.30am but they were gone by the time she arrived,” said Mrs Duffield.

Mrs Moore, of Regency Road, Upton-upon-Severn, said: “She said she would leave them there but I looked all around – even behind the bins – and I couldn’t find them, so I went to the shop and phoned her. But when I called she said they were there. I sent my husband up but he couldn’t find them either.”

The only clue they have was from a neighbour who spotted a white Transit van, with red and green squares on it, which entered the cul-de-sac after 7.30am.

Mrs Duffield said: “Normally we pick up from a shop or from our homes but we couldn’t do it this time. How unfortunate that they came by on that day.

“I had steamed it all ready to be hung out. There were Red Cross labels on a lot of the bags. You couldn’t have mistaken them. There was probably £500 worth of stock in there – and when you think there are children and people all over the world dying for the sake of 10p for a tablet.”

Mrs Moore, who has worked for the Red Cross for 20 years, said: “I spoke to my area manager about it and she said it goes on in Birmingham but she hadn’t heard of it around here.”

The police have said they are aware of the incident.

People who want to donate to the Red Cross can call the St John’s shop on 01905 425828.