Thousands of needy people will go without food after arsonists torched a van used by a charity to make deliveries.
FareShare UK has cancelled all of its food pantries this week and is trying to divert deliveries from its other bases to Edinburgh to keep homeless people fed.
The van was set on fire and completely destroyed at the Cyrenians’ FareShare depot in Jane Street, Leith, on Sunday at 10.30pm. There was no damage to the building.
A statement on the FoodShare website said: “The incident will have a significant impact on our being able to get food to those who need it most – the 20,000 beneficiaries in 130 groups we deliver to every week. All of our food pantries across the city will be cancelled this week.”
FareShare depot services manager Craig Buchan said: “We’re fortunate that no-one was hurt and that no damage has been done to the building.
“As a team, many of whom are volunteers, we are badly shaken up by this incident and our operations, which supply food to those in need, will be significantly impacted this week.”
He added: “We are working on getting a replacement van organised as soon as we are able, but without doubt, several tonnes of food will be wasted, food pantries will be cancelled and a high number of the 20,000 beneficiaries we support every week will go without food.”
Alan Rouane, a representative from FareShare UK, said: “We’re doing everything we can to divert deliveries to other sites and to support services in Central and Southeast Scotland.”
Police Scotland is investigating the incident.