HEARTLESS thieves have stolen a £900 winch used by a Liphook-based charity on aid relief convoys to the Balkans.

And this week the chairman of the Balkan Aid Relief Foundation, Neil Newitt, made a plea for its return.

"This is a vital piece of equipment needed on the convoys and we will have to replace it before our next trip, planned in June, unless it is returned," he said.

The winch, which is used for towing or rescuing vehicles along the route to Bosnia, was taken from Mr Newitt's Land Rover which was parked at the Passfield Business Centre between Saturday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 11.

"The winch was bolted to the front bumper of the Land Rover with strong heavy bolts which would need a skilled person, who knew what they were doing, to undo them," said Mr Newitt.

The thief could not get inside the car to undo the wires, he added, so they were simply cut, wrecking the vehicle's battery.

The Balkan Aid Relief Foundation was set up in l999 to take clothes and school and medical supplies to Bosnia.

There have been six convoys so far, with another planned early in the summer.

Anyone who has any information about the theft should contact Pc Steve Pratley at Whitehill Police Station.