Plates swapped on charity van

SORRY TAIL: manager Michael Waugh (left) secretary Julie Flanagan and trustee Liam Wallace with Dylan, Rolo and Defa

AN animal charity was hit by crooks after it received £4,600 from an anonymous benefactor.

Pennine Pen Animal Rescue, Ashton Road, was delighted when it was given the donation to buy a much-needed van after it was featured in the Oldham Chronicle.

But just hours after picking up the Vauxhall Combo on Friday, thieves had switched its number plates with a stolen van of the same model.

The crime happened in the early hours of Monday, outside manager Michael Waugh’s home in Abbeyhills Road.

He spotted the change in the morning and said: “I was looking out the window at the van and I noticed the number was different. At first I thought the garage had given us the wrong van because ours is a 2004 number but this was a 2002.

“I really thought we had picked up the wrong van but the garage said we hadn’t and someone must have switched the number plates.”

Police told him that the plates were from a stolen van and Mr Waugh fears that he was followed by the crooks who were looking for a identical model.

He added: “Where it was parked, there is no way someone would have just spotted it. It was behind a larger van.

“We had to buy new number plates and we couldn’t use the van on Monday. It’s worrying and I am just hoping I don’t get arrested for an armed robbery.”

Pennine Pen takes in small animals from guinea pigs to cats and dogs which are looked after by volunteer foster carers until a permanent home can be found.

It will be able to expand its work if planning permission is approved for a rescue centre in Honeywell Lane, Hathershaw.

The new van will be invaluable for transporting animals and collecting deliveries for its Ashton Road charity shop. And its first job was to pick up Dillon the dalmatian, Defa the jack russell and a collie cross called Rolo who all desperately need homes.

Secretary Julie Flanagan said the benefactor wanted to remain anonymous and added: “We have struggled for seven years using volunteers’ cars, everything is just so much harder without a van.

“The person was really interested in what we do and impressed with our work.”