KIND-hearted Dorset residents are donating food and other essentials to a charity for the homeless after it was burgled last week.

Thieves stole a month’s worth of donated food, sleeping bags and toiletries from Bournemouth charity Hope for Food’s storage unit on Friday morning.

However over the weekend people have been dropping off replacement items, with Bournemouth libraries accepting food drop-offs.

“We are truly blown away with all the support which is much needed,” the charity said on Facebook.

“We’re lucky to have a wonderful community around us that will donate items to help us restock, and we will also need to raise funds to replace whatever isn’t donated.”

Volunteers from the charity, which runs soup kitchens and an array of outreach services providing rough sleepers with essential items and support, were stunned to find the door of their storeroom on the West Howe Industrial Estate forced open.

The burglars, who would have needed a vehicle to transport the stolen items, had smashed their way in and ransacked the place.

Volunteer Jane Hancox said: “I have spent the whole day crying about it, we have all been deeply shocked and horrified that anyone could do this.

“We all work incredibly hard as volunteers to keep the store and supply going on a weekly basis.

“It feels a bit like we have let down all the people who brought in donations, it is absolutely heart-breaking.”

She said the most expensive item stolen was likely a £60 joint of meat, donated by a member of the public, which had been stored in a freezer.

Even refrigerated and frozen items were taken in the raid.

A camo pattern baseball cap with an NY logo found at the scene is thought to have been left by the perpetrators.

The charity has contacted police to report the theft, and said officers had attended to examine the scene. It said information about the crime can be reported to Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 22-143 or crime number 55180096433.

Hope for Food is appealing for further donations to replace the stolen items.

Visit facebook.com/HopeForFood for more information, or donations can be dropped off at Unit 8, West Howe Industrial Estate BH11 8JX.

Visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/hope-for-food to donate cash.