READERS of the Watford Observer have rallied round to help an Abbots Langley charity which was the victim of an arson attack.

The Watford Observer reported last week how YMCA Woodland Centre's mini buses, which were used to transport children to after school clubs and summer playschemes, were completely destroyed by a deliberate fire.

Director of operations at the Woodland Centre, Ruth Ellis feared the summer programme would have to be scrapped as they couldn't afford to purchase new mini buses.

However, all is not lost, as fuel company Total has stepped forward and offered to buy the charity two second-hand mini buses, at a cost of £20,000.

The buses will be delivered next Thursday, and will be sponsored by Total.

In the meantime, Elim Pentecostal Church in St Albans Road, Watford, has offered to loan the charity its mini buses free of charge.

And Premier Coaches has said when the replacement mini buses arrive, they can be kept free of charge in its yard until the Woodland Centre car park in College Road, Abbots Langley is made more secure.

Ruth said: "We are absolutely thrilled Total is going to replace our mini buses. We are very grateful our story went on the front page of the Watford Observer. Lots of people have seen it and have been really sweet offering us their support.

"There will be no interruption to our programme now but we are going to have to pay out £8,000 to get a secure metal fence put up at our car park so something like this doesn't happen again."