Glum faces as gran’s fun bus is written off

A BIG-hearted gran who devotes hours of her time to helping out a local dance troupe has been dealt a cruel blow by thieves.

Joyce Steel (56) has spent years ferrying girls from the Sapphire Dance troupe — including her daughters and now grand-daughters — to rehearsals, competitions or helping out anyone in need.

But heartless crooks broke into her beloved eight-seater — nicknamed the “fun bus” by the dancers — stole it, trashed it and then dumped it.

And because Joyce’s Volkswagen Caravelle was 15 years old, insurers have told it will have to be written off, leaving her and the troupe without vital transport.

“I’m absolutely devastated, I can’t begin to say how upset I am about this,” said Joyce, from Chadderton.

“These lowlifes have no idea how much upset they’ve caused, I suspect they don’t care either.

“I help out with the dance troupe to make sure kids have something to do to keep them off the streets and then they come along and turn my life upside down.

“I can’t afford another eight-seater. I’ve no idea what I’ll do now.”

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said two men were arrested following the theft on Saturday, November 3, and have been bailed until next Monday.