CRUEL thieves have broken into and trashed the offices of a much-loved Inverclyde charity that transports pensioners and disabled people.

Port Glasgow Voluntary Trans-Port Group is counting the cost of the damage to its base at the industrial estate in Devol in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

The crooks are thought to have gained access via the roof of the property before breaking into a filing cabinet and stealing a sum of cash that had been saved up by drivers for Christmas.

They then proceeded to trash the place.

The group, which has been on the go for more than 30 years, is a registered charity and runs solely through the efforts of volunteers. As well as helping local disabled and elderly people to get about, their famous red mini-buses assist a variety of Inverclyde clubs and organisations.

Christine Dunn, the charity's co-ordinator, said: "We are devastated. "It's our wee domain for our volunteers and someone has come in and destroyed it. "I don't know why anyone would do that at all, especially to a voluntary organisation.

"It's going to take us a while to get back on our feet again."

The charity was set up to provide transport services to people who are in need because of age, mental or physical disability, illness or poverty and to support other charitable projects and initiatives for the benefit of the wider community.

The break-in is thought to have happened at around 6.40am.

As well as losing their Christmas savings, volunteers have had to find almost £130 to buy a new filing cabinet, while carpets and heaters have also been badly damaged and will need replacing.

Christine said: "Why anyone would want to target a voluntary organisation is beyond us.

"If anyone has seen anything please contact the police."

Officers are investigating the incident and have also appealed for information or any eye-witnesses.

Police are currently scouring CCTV footage and are working with scenes of crime investigators to hunt down the culprits.

Anyone with information about the break-in or any eye-witnesses are urged to call police on 101 quoting incident number 0912.

People can also phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anyone who would like to volunteer as a driver, escort or provide support for the organisation in any other way, can phone 743150.