A charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers has been left "devastated" after its truck was stolen from its garden.

CEO of Oasis Cardiff, external Susie Ventris-Field said the centre's CCTV footage revealed the "thoughtless" theft occurred at 01:00 BST on Sunday, reported the BBC.

The truck was used for delivering training and employment opportunities to refugees and asylum seekers.

The charity has appealed for anyone with more information to come forward and assist South Wales Police with its investigation.

Set up in 2008, Oasis Cardiff in Splott has helped hundreds of people who have fled war or political persecution from countries including Syria, Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Albania, Libya and Iraq.

The centre provides a "safe haven" for those in need as well as providing meals, clothing, language classes, advice and activities aimed at helping people settle in the community.

Ventris-Field said one of its 355 volunteers noticed the truck was missing on Sunday after arriving for their shift.

CCTV footage showed the thieves taking about an hour to break through the gates before towing the vehicle away, which she believed was done using a Land Rover.

She said the charity and wider community had been left "gutted".

The bright blue truck was used to provide employment and catering training for refugees and asylum seekers and, while it was based in the centre's garden, it often travelled to festivals across the country.

Ventris-Field said the truck gave the organisation a chance to engage with people and challenge stereotypes surrounding asylum seekers and refugees.

Also, it served as an important source of income at events during a "very difficult time".

Ventris-Field said she was unsure about the charity's next steps, adding that it did not have the financial resources to replace the stolen truck.

Despite the upsetting news, she said the charity always tried to focus on the positives and had been "amazed by how many people in the community have expressed their disappointment".

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