Stockton 'mob' barricades air ambulance charity collectors
Charity workers were forced to drive a van through a "wheelie bin barricade" after being confronted by a mob on Teesside, the organisation claims.
The Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS) pair were in the Bowesfield area of Stockton when they spotted two teenage boys taking its bags in a cul-de-sac.
After asking them to stop, GNASS said others arrived and created a wheelie bin "barricade" to trap their van.
The charity said it might now stop charity collections in the area.
A spokeswoman said the pair managed to drive off, ramming the bins out of the way.
Clare Crabtree from the GNAAS described it as a "terrifying ordeal".
She said: "The gang was closing in so the driver took the decision to ram the wheelie bins out of the way.
"He was scared and said he couldn't think of anything else to do."
The charity said thefts of donated clothing were costing it more than £5,000 a week.