A city charity is dealing with unexpected and unwelcome costs this Christmas after one of its vital transport vehicles was damaged in a suspected theft attempt.

The Hamlet Charity, which has three sites around the city, had one of its two specially adapted minibuses broken into while it was parked outside the new adult centre in Marion Road, Thorpe Hamlet.

The incident, which happened on Saturday, December 2 saw wiring pulled from under the steering wheel and damaged to the point it can't be driven.

Norwich Evening News: Wires were ripped out from under the steering wheel and damaged by vandalsWires were ripped out from under the steering wheel and damaged by vandals (Image: The Hamlet)

Chief executive of the charity, Ellie Coulson, said: "This could not have happened at a worse time.

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"We rely heavily on our adapted vehicles to transport Hamlet users to and from activities.

"Given the complex needs of the people we support, it is simply not possible to use other forms of transport and the weather at this time of year severely limits the activities we can safely access by walking.

Norwich Evening News: CEO of The Hamlet, Ellie Coulson, said the incident could not have come at a worse timeCEO of The Hamlet, Ellie Coulson, said the incident could not have come at a worse time (Image: The Hamlet)

"We have already had to find the money for several expensive repair bills for this vehicle due to its age so someone damaging it deliberately is devastating for us.

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"Sadly, due to cost, we don’t have CCTV installed here so we have no idea who could have done this."

Norwich Evening News: The damage done to the minibus has left it unavailable to use by the charityThe damage done to the minibus has left it unavailable to use by the charity (Image: The Hamlet)

The Hamlet would like anyone who may have any information about the incident, to contact them, so they can pass it on to the police.

The charity recently celebrated its 50-year anniversary by setting up shop at a new venue and launching a "50 Years of Firsts" fundraising campaign.

The charity, which has supported more than 500 families each year since it began in 1973, opened its new Marion Road facility for adult services on October 6.

Norwich Evening News: The incident happened on December 2, at The Hamlet's new venue in Marion Road, Thorpe HamletThe incident happened on December 2, at The Hamlet's new venue in Marion Road, Thorpe Hamlet (Image: The Hamlet)