A CHARITY for the elderly whose minibus was vandalised beyond use have thanked the Oxford Mail for its help in a fundraising campaign to repair it.

Age Concern Chalgrove said it was “thrilled” to get the bus back from the workshop this month and was still overwhelmed by villagers’ generosity.

Residents of Chalgrove – from primary school children to pub landlords – raised £3,500 for the charity after the Oxford Mail publicised the vandalism in January.

They said the bonnet was prised open and headlights smashed to get into the engine compartment, in what trustees believe was an attempt to steal the valuable catalytic converter and diesel filter.

The attack also spoilt the group’s celebrations after trustee Ken Batley was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list.

But while it was out of action, not only did villagers raise money towards the repairs, others volunteered as drivers to take elderly people to the charity’s Tuesday lunch club.

Trustee Judith Bennett said: “Everyone is so thrilled the bus is back and we are so grateful to the Oxford Mail for all the publicity and help.

“The volunteers have been absolutely fantastic. Over the past 20 weeks we have had half a dozen people ferrying between 20 and 30 people in their cars every week.”

More than just being useful, trustees also had an emotional attachment to the minibus. The charity was only able to buy the vehicle for £48,000 six years ago because of money left to them by a villager in her will.

Mrs Bennett added: “We have a tremendously emotional attachment to it.

“If we hadn’t had that minibus we wouldn’t have flourished in the way we have.

“I’ve been a trustee for six years but the number of people who come as core members every week has grown from just over 30 to 45.

“Part of that success has been because we can get people to us from further afield, not just Chalgrove.”

The charity now has 180 members including trustees and volunteers. As well as taking regulars to the Tuesday lunch club at Chalgrove Village Hall, the group also takes elderly locals on shopping trips and to the garden centre.

In the past it has even used it to take a group of Royal British Legion members to Bletchley Park – and took a group to Ladies’ Day at Cheltenham races.

All the repairs of the minibus were covered by the charity’s insurance.

But Mrs Bennett said the money would still be invaluable to the charity and could go towards maintenance and fuel costs.