A cat charity in Lewisham has slammed "despicable" people who stole one of their rescue vans overnight.

Staff at Celia Hammond Animal Trust arrived at Gordonbrock Road in Brockley this morning to find one of their two vans was missing.

A post on the charity's Facebook page described rescue team member Kelley's reaction when she discovered the van - one of two owned by the charity - had gone.

"Kelley phoned colleagues in tears, fortunately there were no animals on board but the van was loaded with essential rescue equipment," it read.

"Our rescue vehicles are constantly in use day and night and are vital to us being able to cats who are sick, injured cats, stray or abandoned cats so to have one stolen is a disaster."

Speaking to News Shopper, Celia Hammond worker Naomi Sheen added: "People are just despicable. It's full of baskets and trapping equipment.

"There's also a fear of that equipment falling into the wrong hands."

Naomi told News Shopper the van had been bought after a fundraising campaign by the charity just three years ago.

The van is described as a white Ford Connect Van with the registration GL11 0DB.

According to the charity, it was previously owned by the water board and has reflective safety strips on its back doors.

Anyone with any information about the van's whereabouts is asked to get in touch with the charity on 0208 691 2100 and the police on 101.