CHARITY workers have spoken of their disgust at the actions of burglars who left more than a dozen vulnerable people without their food orders.

Member of the Women's Royal Volunteer Service (WRVS) in Consett, which recently started a frozen foods delivery service in Derwentside, had to throw away more than £600 worth of food after raiders left a fridge door open.

Burglars who broke into the WRVS depot, on the town's Number One Estate, also stole 14 Fridgemaster table-top freezers, two Matsui microwave ovens and an oven - all marked with infra-red ink.

WRVS branch chairman Brenda Walton said: "We are disgusted by what they have done.

"To have stolen the fridges was one thing. But then to leave the door of the walk-in fridge open was completely uncalled for.

"Seventeen vulnerable people were left without their orders as a result."

The burglary came a fortnight after thieves had twice tried to enter the premises.

Financial administrator Maggie Noble said: "I am saddened by this, because we are here trying to do something for the community."

The WRVS, which provides a hot meals delivery service, has recently started to take frozen foods to people.