AN urgent appeal has been launched after a trailer containing ten wheelchairs was stolen from the back of Stourbridge's Crystal Leisure Centre.

The wheelchairs, which are worth around £18,000, are specially adapted for children and young people with disabilities to use during sport and are a lifeline for sport and PE sessions that are organised across the borough.

Following the theft, which happened at around 8.20pm on Tuesday February 22, Dudley Council has launched an appeal urging people to come forward with information about the equipment, which is usually stored at Earls High School in Halesowen.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley's cabinet member responsible for leisure centres, said: “I am sickened by the actions of these heartless thieves. The children and young people who rely on these chairs to participate in some of our sessions are suffering because of their thoughtlessness.

“I strongly urge anyone who knows anything about the stolen items to contact the police immediately.”

All items were marked and can be identified as belonging to the council.

Authority bosses are desperately hoping they will be recovered as due to terms on the insurance policy of the centre they may not be able to be replaced.

Anyone who has information about the incident or the whereabouts of the equipment is asked to call West Midlands Police on 101- quoting reference number 20DY/38199J/17.