Burglars have stolen money from a food bank after breaking into a fire station.

The Colne Valley Help food bank is based in Slaithwaite Fire Station but the thieves broke into the station, searched the food and found £250 which is used to buy food for people in desperate need of help.

The money is never usually left on the premises and an urgent plea has gone out for people to rally round and help the food bank with food donations and cash.

The raid happened on Tuesday night into Wednesday (Aug 29 and 30) and police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to phone 101 quoting reference 13230481997. It may be the thieves have been caught on CCTV.

Colne Valley Help founder Richard Izzard said: “It’s really sad news that the food bank has been broken into overnight and had some cash donations which are not normally on the premises stolen.

“Police have been extremely helpful and we were able to get tidied up and damaged windows repaired. We are currently accessing local CCTV to try and get times and descriptions and we are very grateful to those closest to us who offered to help tidy up or do what they can.”

Here are a few ways people can help the food bank to recover.

* Pop donations of non-perishable food and drinks in the donation bin at the front of Slaithwaite Fire Station.

* Give donations of money online through JustGiving HERE

* Regular donation by standing order to Colne Valley Help. Sort Code 53-61-07, Account No 70700036.

* Businesses and groups of family or friends arranging a food collection.

People in need don’t have to be referred to Colne Valley Help by another organisation. They can simply turn up at Slaithwaite Fire Station on New Street in Slaithwaite between 1pm and 2pm on Friday afternoons.

There is also a drop in place for the Golcar, Longwood and Milnsbridge areas at the Drop By Centre, 12 Sycamore Court, Longwood, HD3 4SS, on Monday lunchtimes from 11.30am to 12.30pm.

People who are given food packs are asked to make a small donation if they possibly can.

Colne Valley Help is a registered charity so it can claim gift aid on donations, making the money go even further.

Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.