The future of a farmers’ market which raises cash for Birmingham charities is in jeopardy after thieves stole equipment worth £12,000.
Ten double and ten single wooden stalls, boards, canvases and a trailer used to tow the items were taken from a compound at All Saints Church in Vicarage Road, Kings Heath.
Much of the equipment was made by volunteers and donated to the church but only insured for £5,000 leaving a £7,000 shortfall which the Kings Heath Business Association, organisers of the Kings Heath Farmers’ Market, will need to find to keep the popular monthly event running.
Money raised by previous markets has gone towards kidney research, the All Saints development project, Moseley Round Table, the Moseley and Kings Heath Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Kings Heath and Kings Norton, but this spare cash will now have to be pledged towards hiring replacement equipment.
Stan Hems, chairman of the association, is so appalled he is offering a £1,000 reward to help to trace the stolen goods and the perpetrators.
“I was absolutely gutted,” he said. “All proceeds from the markets go to local charities so effectively they’ve stolen from charity.
“I can’t believe that anybody could be so callous. We just want the stalls back so we can run the next event.
Used during the last market, the goods were taken some time between 5pm on Saturday, February 7, and 6pm the following evening.
