Upset as '˜despicable' vandals target vital Selsey charity bus

Elderly and disabled Selsey residents could miss out on their only trips out of the house after a charity bus was vandalised.
Selsey Venture ClubSelsey Venture Club
Selsey Venture Club

Selsey Venture Club has four buses which takes residents to and from the shop to buy food, organises day trips out and weekly journeys into Chichester – all for just £10 a year.

However, on Wednesday, November 30, chairman of the charity Brian Sharpe discovered that one of their vital buses had been ruined.

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“At about 1.50am somebody decided they would go under one of the buses and saw off the exhaust system,” said Brian.

“We do several amenity runs a week as well as trips into Chichester – without one of our buses we can’t guarantee that everyone will be picked up.”

The charity is coming up to its 50th year in operation due to the hard work of the volunteers – some of which have been with the club for 16 years.

Maureen Carroll, 78, said: “If you are lonely in Selsey you are a fool if you don’t join.

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“It gets us out of the house which we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.”

Pat Hibbit, 90, agreed, adding that the club is a ‘godsend’.

She said: “I have no immediate family in Selsey so being picked up from my door is so helpful.

“It is despicable that someone would come and vandalise the bus, but unfortunately it isn’t the first time is has happened.”

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Driver Nigel Cooper – who’s father was one of the founders of the charity – said he believed the crime to be as bad as ‘stealing from a charity box’.

A spokesperson from Sussex Police said: “Police had reported damage to a bus parked at Elm Grove in Selsey on November 30.

“The damage was caused to the exhaust and police are investigating.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the email [email protected] quoting serial 899 of 30/11.”