THIEVES have stolen a charity s van – leaving it unable to collect and recycle waste paper from numerous local schools. The Paper Trail s distinctive blue-and-white Recycle for Learning van was stolen from Granby Avenue, Harpenden, overnight on Wednesd

THIEVES have stolen a charity's van - leaving it unable to collect and recycle waste paper from numerous local schools.

The Paper Trail's distinctive blue-and-white 'Recycle for Learning' van was stolen from Granby Avenue, Harpenden, overnight on Wednesday.

The liveried Transit van, which the charity can't afford to replace, was parked on a driveway ready to collect paper from local schools the following day.

The charity is now hoping that a generous person or company will donate a replacement van so that it can continue collecting more than two-and-a-half tonnes of waste paper each week from more than 180 schools in Herts, the surrounding counties and north London.

The stolen van was donated to the charity by the Hemel Hempstead Brass Band when it acquired a new one.

A spokesperson for the company said: "The Paper Trail is particularly devastated that this workhorse has been stolen, especially in these dire times of financial uncertainty for the charity."

She added: "With the Paper Trail struggling to keep going itself, there is no way that the charity can afford to buy another van - so it is hoping that there maybe a generous company or person that would like to donate a van - second-hand or otherwise - to the charity to ensure that it doesn't let all the schools down in the collection of their waste paper and all the benefits they glean from this."

Anyone interested in helping the charity to find a new van should call them on 0870 950 9272. Those with information about the theft should contact the police on 0845 3300 222.