Stranger comes to charity's aid after minibus theft

Thieves targeted the Coventry charity's minibus which the charity said was a lifeline for service users

A stranger has paid for a "lifeline" charity to repair one of its minibuses after the vehicle was targeted by thieves.

Users of the Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind nearly lost access to the service after a diesel filter was stolen from the vehicle, the charity said.

But a stranger donated almost £3,000 to them to cover the repairs and ensure it continues.

"We're touched and moved without measure," the manager of the centre, Hugh Sorrill said.

Mr Sorrill told BBC CWR he knew of 20 service users who would not be able to make it to the centre any other way.

"We're their only contact in the week and we provide the right support that they need," he added.

Help also came from the Enterprise Club For Disabled People who lent the charity one of their minibuses.

• Listen on BBC Sounds: Hugh Sorrill talks to BBC CWR

"There are scumbags out there who will steal [people's] lifeline and there are absolute angels who step in," Mr Sorrill said.

"It's sent a whole frisson around the charity about the kindness of people."

He also thanked the garage repairing the minibus, CG Motors.

"That man has moved heaven and earth to try and find one of these filters," he said.

The garage manager tracked an original manufacturer's part down to France, which would be shipped over for repairs, Mr Sorrill said.

"Hopefully they will be repairing it over the weekend. Otherwise we were looking at three or four weeks without a bus," he added.

The charity was also looking at new security arrangements to prevent future thefts.