MORE than £1,600 has been raised to replace wheelchairs destroyed by thieves.

Yobs targeted the home of Tracey Beck, in High Street, Shoebury. She provides respite care for children with special needs.

Thieves broke into a shed on Sunday, April 30, stealing a barbecue and food from a freezer. They went on to destroy two wheelchairs used by Mrs Beck to take children on day trips in her car.

Her friend Michaela Collie, 50, from Great Wakering, was so distraught she started a Just Giving page that night - and was astonished with the response.

She said: “Tracey looks after my niece, Poppy, who has a rare disability. She has worked wonders with her.

“She is a wonderful lady so I was really upset when I heard what happened.

“Wheelchairs were broken along with other things.

“I was so upset by this as she is a lifeline not only to my family but other families taking these incredible children on days out and giving mine and other families much needed rest.”

Mrs Collie added: “I was so angry and really tearful so I started the just giving page thinking we could raise £300. When I got up in the morning the page had raised £1,200 in 12 hours and now it’s £1,600.

“From something so terrible, this has really restored my faith in in people.

“Everyone has been so wonderful. Tracey was given a barbecue by one of my friends Nigel Hogger and Jacquie Dallimore from the Roslin Hotel provided the money to replace the wheelchairs so that we don’t have to wait until the end of the Just Giving page in 30 days. The response has been amazing.

“The kindness has been overwhelming. Something so lovely has happened out of something so awful.

Mrs Beck, 53, who works for Southend Toy Library, is overwhelmed by the support.

She said: “I couldn’t believe someone would do this. If someone had come and asked me for food I would gladly have given it to them.

“I can almost understand it if someone is hungry. I’d have thought at least I’d helped someone but to destroy wheelchairs , you just think why?”

Mrs Beck added: “These were special wheelchairs that fold up so that I can get them into the people carrier. They’re quite expensive but I’d managed to get them second hand.

“It’s amazing what people have done and I can’t thank them enough.

“We have had a lot of burglaries round here. The police said I should just claim on the insurance but as they wheelchairs were second hand I don’t have any receipts or proof of purchase.

“We got some really nice special wheelchairs thanks to Jaqui and I’m going to make sure I get a sturdy door and lock for my shed.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101.