VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a van adapted for use by disabled people.

The van, a Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life, is used by Access Dorset and based at Bournemouth’s Littledown Centre.

It was vandalised in Wyke Regis near Weymouth, when charity member and volunteer Bob Biddiss had the van in preparation for taking his wife Karen, and other disabled members to an event in Bournemouth.

He said: “We had to cancel that.

“I am so angry. This van is a lifeline for disabled people who would otherwise struggle to get out of their homes.”

Mechanics estimate the damage caused will cost £2,000 to repair.

Vandals smashed a window and wing mirror, and one door was badly scratched.

And it is claimed the van may have been deliberately targeted because of its disabled sticker.

Mr Biddiss, 46, added: “No other vehicles in the whole street were damaged.

“The van is clearly marked as an adapted vehicle with a disabled sticker.

“It makes you wonder if it was targeted.”

Jonathan Waddington Jones, Chief Executive of Access Dorset, said: “This causes massive disruption and means a number of forthcoming trips will have to be cancelled.”

He added: “Sadly, crime against disabled people is all too common. In the past our members have been spat at, assaulted and verbally abused.”

The van belongs to the Breeze Volkswagen Centre in Poole, and has been donated to Access Dorset for use by its members for six months.

The charity works to help some of the 45,000 disabled people in Dorset to become more independent.