THIEVES have stolen hundreds of bags of clothing destined for a charity for the disabled.

Managers at the Stanley branch of Scope, which helps sufferers of cerebral palsy, have asked the public for help after the third attack by thieves.

The two culprits, a boy aged about 13 with blond hair, and a stocky, dark-haired man, have been posing as charity workers to collect bags filled with jumble intended for the charity. They have picked up hundreds of bags from homes across Derwentside.

The pair have struck in three areas in the past two months at Delves Lane, South Moor and, last Wednesday, on the Chester Road estate, in east Stanley.

"We should have picked up 400 bags from Stanley in the last collection, but only got 11 back," said manager Julie Clark.

"People were telling us they had already had their bags picked up. It is absolutely despicable, and I don't know how they can do it. We really need all the contributions we can get to help us in our work.

"Our vans have Scope clearly printed on the side, and our collectors all have proper identification."

Detective Constable Shaun Bailey confirmed police were investigating the thefts.