Charity volunteers got an unwanted Christmas present when thieving fly-tippers stole their bin and returned it full of rubble.

The bin is now too heavy to move and staff at the British Heart Foundation shop in Gillingham fear they will have to spend thousands of pounds to have it emptied.

The large wheelie bin was taken from the back of the shop on Friday night, and spotted by a volunteer the following evening in King Street, filled with what staff believe is the remains of an old flat roof.

“Sunday night it moved to the barrier of the car park and last night the fly-tippers put it back in its proper place at the back of the shop,” said charity volunteer Catherine Tanton.

“Yes, the bin is back but it is full. Biffa can’t empty it because it is too heavy for their equipment, the charity will have to order a skip with two men to lift all the mineral-coated asphalt and whatever is beneath it out of the bin into the skip and this will cost the charity thousands.”

She said that envelopes dumped on the top of the rubbish, addressed to Victoria Street near to where the abandoned bin was first spotted, might offer a clue in the hunt for the culprits, but Mrs Tanton said police had said they were unable to help.

With no bin to use, she said the shop staff had since had to pile up rubbish behind the shop, but that this was being scattered around in the night and volunteers had to clear it up again each morning.

“It’s the selfishness of it,” she added. “They didn’t want to pay to have it taken away properly. It’s caused so much hassle. We can’t do anything unless we rent a skip and get workmen to do it.

“The last time we were fly-tipped someone gave a donation to have it cleared away. We think that was from a house clearance and they just dumped the whole lot round the back. This is worse because it’s so heavy.”

Police confirmed they were called to investigate the reported theft of a commercial bin from the rear of a business in High Street, Gillingham, between 5.10pm on Friday December 16, and 8am the following day. Anyone with information can call 01634 792209 quoting reference XY/50646/16.

It is understood that filling a bin with rubble is not a police issue, and the charity would need to take civil action against those responsible.