A MINIBUS which provided a lifeline for hundreds of elderly and disabled residents in Droitwich for more than 12 years has been stolen.

The white Ford Transit, registration number K736 NOW, was taken from St Andrew's Road some time before 9.40am on Monday.

It was used three days a week by Age Concern Day Centre and on a weekly basis by Droitwich Stroke Club, the multiple sclerosis charity Mainstay, and the Salvation Army.

It was also often hired out by other groups such as the Fellowship Club, the Gentle Exercise organisation, and Arthritis Care.

Sue Poyer, manager of the Droitwich Spa & Rural Council for Voluntary Service, which owns the vehicle, said its loss was a big blow to the community.

"The minibus is vital to the community," she said. "There are going to be many highly disappointed people who rely on it and who look forward to travelling on it.

"It is used by around seven or eight different groups a week. And while that may not sound a lot, it is the nature of the passengers that makes it so important."

"The users are very vulnerable people and the bus provided them with a lifeline to travel to day centres, social outings, and so on.

"I don't know what we are going to do until it is recovered or a replacement has been found.

"We do have another vehicle, but this is tied up with contract work. We really need to get this one back."

There have been some sightings of the minibus in Droitwich, but police have said none of these have been confirmed.

Officers are keen to hear from anyone who as any information on the vehicle's whereabouts.

"It doesn't matter how unimportant they think it might be - any information could help in our enquiries and enable us to quickly recover what is clearly a special minibus," said a police spokesman.

Anyone who has any information on the minibus should call Droitwich police on 08457 444 888, quoting incident number 27C/100504.