An Enfield brownie leader has made an emotional plea for the return of the group's stolen minibus.

Thieves stole the white 17-seater minibus owned by the 9th Enfield Brownies, from the car park at Christ Church in Chase Side, sometime between Sunday night and Monday evening.

Brown Owl Kathy Brown said the 12-strong group had been left "horrified" by the theft of the bus, which was bought two years ago and needed some work to be brought in line with emissions regulations introduced at the start of the year.

She added: “It’s very disappointing for the children. I was hoping to get it ready to use this year for trips, but now we won’t be able to.

“These people obviously haven’t thought about what they’ve done, stealing from children. It’s so thoughtless, but all they see is the value of the scrap metal.

“We’ve already spent money on new seats and it was probably worth about £1,000 done up.”

Mrs Brown, who has run the group for six years, said she had planned to use the minibus to take the girls on trips to discos and pan-London brownie events around the country.

She urged the thieves to return the bus, or for anyone with information to call Enfield Police.