Thieves have struck at another charity in west Oxfordshire, taking valuable gardening equipment used to help people with mental health problems.

They cut their way through two gates at the weekend and into a locked shipping container where the equipment was stored at Bridewell Organic Gardens, between Finstock and North Leigh.

Gone are two brushcutters, a wheeled strimmer and a chainsaw, only bought the previous day, along with two more strimmers and a chipper, with a total value of £2,300.

The thefts come just over a month after burglars targeted the Sobell House Hospice warehouse in Witney's Station Lane industrial estate, stealing one of the charity's two delivery vans vital for fundraising collections and deliveries. The van was only returned last week after being discovered at Cheltenham.

At Bridewell the garden equipment came out of money provided through a Big Lottery Fund Award for All grant in February this year.

General manager Alex Taylor said: "Obviously, we are all pretty shocked and upset.

"It is very disheartening when things like this happen, especially given the nature of the work that we do and that we are a charity.

"They must have been well organised. The equipment has never been used, but will be minus the manuals as we still have these. If anyone sees these items they should contact the police."

Bridewell helps people with mental health problems, like depression or schizophrenia and the activities it provides helps them rebuild their self-esteem and confidence.

About 70 per cent of its funding comes from primary care trusts and the rest from fundraising.