Volunteers at a church homeless project were left shocked after thieves stole a laundry bag full of sheets and clothes.

Sarah Hinton, co-ordinator of the Inn Churches Project at St Stephen’s Church, West Bowling, said the bag was stolen after a dozen homeless people had stayed at the church on Saturday.

She said: “All the pillow cases, the sheets, sleeping bags, bedding and some clothes they wanted washing had been put into a bag.

“The bag went on steps of the church while the man went to get his car to take them to the washers. He was literally gone for two minutes and when he came back he saw somebody up the road bundling it into another car and driving off.”

Mrs Hinton said the project was now appealing for help in replacing the bedding and clothes.