Stowmarket youth charity's income hit by trailer thieves

Thieves have cost a youth charity at least £10,000 of income by stealing its brand new catering trailer.

Even if The Mix claims on insurance, it will not get a replacement in time to profit from this year's events season and the loss could hit services it offers youth in Stowmarket.

Dave Hannah, The Mix's operations and youth work director, said that facing loss of local government funding, they decided three years ago to start three businesses to finance themselves.

"The catering trailer was part of our catering business," he said. "It brings in money, used to fund our youth work, and provides employment and training for young people. The catering trailer was this year supposed to bring in £10,000.

"It took five months to get the trailer from idea to reality and it cost £18,000.

"If we claim on insurance and order another, it will be a minimum of three moths before we get it so we've missed the season."

Sadly Chapel Signs were to have given the white trailer a distinctive livery next week, which would have made it harder for thieves to sell on.

The trailer is 8ft by 12ft with a serving hatch down one side and a rear door.

It was stolen from a locked, fenced yard in Needham Road at about 8.35pm on Saturday by someone using a black estate car.