A GROUP of disabled children will miss out on a visit to Father Christmas after thieves attacked their minibus.

The exhaust and catalytic converter were taken from underneath the wheelchair-adapted vehicle over-night on Tuesday while it was parked outside Langside School in Parkstone, Poole, one of the services run by Dorset disability charity Diverse Abilities Plus.

It will cost £2,000 to repair the minibus, which will be covered by insurance, but the charity will still have to pay any excess as well as possibly increased premiums.

But staff at the school are more upset at having to decide which six children will not be able to see Santa at a garden centre on Tuesday, a trip which took a considerable amount of time to set up.

Langside principal Jonathan Seaward said: “We are very disappointed and shocked that someone has stolen not only the exhaust and catalytic converter from a school minibus, but one run by a local disability charity.

“We desperately hope to find a way to still be able to take the school’s pupils to visit Father Christmas next week, but at the moment this is not looking hopeful.”

It is not the first time a charity has fallen victim to such a theft – in July valuable parts were stolen from a Youth Cancer Trust vehicle used to take young people living with cancer on day trips from the Alum Chine holiday home.

The theft was discovered when eight youngsters using the vehicle on a bowling trip were taken ill with nausea.

Anyone who can provide a wheelchair accessible minibus to enable the children to visit Father Christmas should call Joan Skinner on 01202 518635.

If you can help with funding, email fundraising@diverseabilitiesplus org.uk.