A WILDLIFE charity has been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after thieves targeted their compound.

Thieves smashed the windows and mirrors on Tees Valley Wildlife Trust's van in its Margrove Park compound near Guisborough, east Cleveland, before steeling the wheels off the vans, leaving one of the vehicles on bricks, and a chainsaw was also stolen. Staff had to reschedule their work, cancel volunteer activities and postpone activity with groups of young people as a result of the thefts and vandalism.

Steve Ashton, the Trust’s People and Wildlife manager said: "As a charity we have to raise all our own funds to cover the costs of what we do. Although we are insured, I am sure that the price of our policy will go up next year and we will need to find that money from somewhere. It’s also the inconvenience of getting new windows and mirrors and finding the correct wheels for the van and having to reschedule our work and let people down."

If anyone knows anything about the incident contact Cleveland Police on 101 or contact the Trust on 01287-636382.