CALLOUS thieves have been caught on camera stealing bags full of donations from outside a Sedgley charity's shop.

The pair helped themselves to 12 bags and two boxes, full of clothing and other items, which had been left outside the Beacon Centre at around 3pm on Sunday.

A neighbour filmed the man and woman, who are believed to be in their early 30s, placing the bags into a blue Audi estate, before driving off.

This isn't the first time donations have been stolen from the Wolverhampton Road East centre, according to Tracey Ford, the charity's head of enterprise operations.

She said: "We had a similar incident at the end of May but that's not the first time it has happened.

"I think it is just disgraceful - we are so angry and frustrated. We have members of staff and over 150 volunteers who work extremely hard to generate funds by selling donated items. The funds raised go towards our services that support people with sight loss."

She added that the Sedgley centre would now be installing a clothes bank to prevent further thefts.

Alternatively, people could visit the charity's seven shops in Sedgley, Halesowen, Penkridge, Wednesbury, Bloxwich, Bilston and Cannock between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Saturday to drop off donations in person.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Police were made aware of the theft of a number of charity bags from outside the Beacon Centre in Sedgley on Monday, June 26.

"It is believed a man and woman were seen placing a number of the bags, filled with donated clothes and items, into a car before driving off in the blue Audi estate."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting log 733 of June 26.