Heartless thieves swiped £700 worth of supplies from a Lewisham foodbank - but a children's charity has stepped in to replace the goods.

The Trussell Trust's warehouse was broken into, with sugar, milk, tea and coffee stolen and the storeroom left damaged.

Run from the  Forest Hill Community Church, the facility provides essentials to about 150 families a month, including dozens of children.

Chief operating officer Rev Carol Bostridge said: "This was food donated to be used to help families in crisis. It was so sad to think thieves could target us in this way – hurting those who were already in great need. We are reviewing our security and this will cause us additional costs."

The Children’s Society, which supports families in eight Lewisham children’s centres, has stepped in, providing £500 to replace the stolen items.

Last week, News Shopper revealed how visitors to Lewisham's foodbank had increased by an astonishing 500 per cent in the past year.