A London food bank has appealed for donations after thieves stole its van and all the food inside overnight.

Brent Food Bank said its vehicle was full of stock which was destined to be delivered to local people living in food poverty.

They described the theft as a ‘massive blow’ to its mission of ensuring no one goes hungry.

The food bank tweeted: ‘I am very sad to report that our food bank van was stolen just before midnight last night right outside our Neasden Centre.

‘I’m even sadder to say that it was full of stock that should have been given to people needing emergency food parcels over the coming weeks.

‘This is a massive blow for us as you can imagine.’

Lead organiser Sophie said she and fellow volunteers were ‘absolutely gutted’.

She told Metro.co.uk: ‘Because we run the food bank out of a very small space, when the van isn’t on the road we use it to store our overflow stock. And all of that food has now gone.’

Supporters and social media users shared their shock at the crime.

Author Russ Kane retweeted the appeal and said: ‘There are no depths to which thieves will not sink. No humanity.’

Rachel Macklin said: ‘Devastated for Sophie, Lucia & team today. Keep your eyes peeled north London.’

The Brent food bank feeds around 220 people a week after usage tripled over the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year, it supplied emergency food parcels to nearly 16,500 people.

Volunteers appealed for anyone with information about the van theft to get in touch.

Details of how to donate food supplies can be found on its website.

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