Cruel thieves’ actions have halted an animal therapy charity’s “unicorn visits” to dying children.

Alamanda Animal Therapy takes out animals, including miniature horses, dressed up as magic unicorns, to sick children in hospitals, hospices and at home.

Thieves have stolen the horsebox the Vange charity uses to transport the animals, leaving founder,Amanda Poulton, angry and frustrated.

The trailer, was stolen from outside Mrs Poulton’s home, off London Road, Vange.

Inside was an estimated £1,300 of equipment, includingaspecial horse headcollar, designed to make her white horses look like unicorns.

Mrs Poulton said: “I went out for the school run on Wednesday and came back and there was no trailer.

“It’s frustrating, because the stuff inside the trailer is useless toanyoneelse,but priceless tous.

“There was a unicorn halter that we put on horses and decorate with glitter to make the children feel special. Those unicorn visits are for our palliative care trips for when a child is near the end of their life.

“Therewere also tabards, rugs, temporary fences and a £200 grooming kit for the white horses.

This has completely affected our businesses, I can’t take the horses anywhere – and they are the stars of the show.”

MrsPoulton has alreadyhad to cancel appointments at Colchester barracks, where she was to work with soldiers suffering post-traumatic stress at a Help ForHeroes centre.

She said: “I’ve had to cancel every visit. We’re a struggling charity anyway, we haven’t quite got enough money.

“It’s a massive kick in the teeth.”

The loss of the trailer comes only a few weeks after the Echo featured an appeal from Mrs Poulton for donations to support the charity’swork.

A police spokesman said: “We received reports a horse trailer belonging to a charity was stolen fromadriveway inLondon Road, Vange, some time between 3pm and 6.15pm on Wednesday, September 9.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Pitsea police station on 101.”

To donate to the charity, visit alamanda.co.uk