A charity fears clothes and medical supplies destined for some of Africa’s poorest orphans could be ruined after lead thieves stole roofing – causing water to leak into their mill headquarters.

The raiders hit the work of Mpika Relief Fund, a charity which helps deprived youngsters at an orphanage in Zambia, by ripping lead from the roof above its storage room in Dalton Mills, Keighley .

June Martin, chairman and co-founder of the charity, said: “There has been some water damage to the room and it has made the property vulnerable.

“We’re worried about things getting damp, because then they’ll be ruined.”

Mpika was founded in 2004 and initially supported an orphanage for children orphaned by HIV and the AIDS virus.

It now also fundraises for a school and a hospital by selling goods from its shops in Denholme and Keighley and has been using the ground-floor storage room in Dalton Mills for one and a half years. Mrs Martin said among the items in the room due to be sent to Zambia were children’s clothes, carpets, medical supplies, books and school equipment.

She said lead was removed – causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage – but was then left behind, indicating that the thieves may have been disturbed.

Mrs Martin said: “Quite a lot of water has leaked in and it’s damaged some of the stock that we were going to sell in our shops.

“We’re going to try to move things as much as we can to make sure they are away from the affected area. I’m anxious about the wind picking up and doing more harm to the roof.

“Ideally we need our goods to be in a container, so they are ready to be shipped out.”

A spokesman for Airedale and North Bradford Police said officers from Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) were investigating the attempted lead theft, in the early hours of Monday, and were scouring CCTV to find the burglars. He said thieves had also broken into another unit at Dalton Mills and stole computer equipment.

The spokesman said: “Between 2am and 4.30am computer equipment was stolen from a unit via a window. CCTV inquiries and forensic work are ongoing to trace those responsible.”

Any witnesses should contact Airedale and North Bradford CID on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Anyone wishing to donate should call (01274) 416226 or visit mpika.org.