A charity has begged people stockpiling over coronavirus fears to stop stealing its soap and loo roll.

Staff at The Horsebridge Arts Centre in Whitstable were shocked to find essential supplies swiped from its bathrooms over the weekend, as concerns over Covid-19 escalate.

Six people in Kent have so far been diagnosed with the virus, while panic-buying shoppers have seen stocks of essentials including pasta, hand sanitiser and loo roll dwindle at shops across the county.

The Horsebridge - a popular public arts space that hosts regular classes, film screenings, artist talks and exhibitions - had taken the precaution of providing extra hand soaps in its bathrooms to encourage hand-washing.

But centre director Liz Daone says the soaps and at least 15 loo rolls were pinched by people using its facilities over the weekend.

"We work on incredibly tight margins and our overheads are supported by charitable donations and our friends scheme," she said.

"Buying extra toilet rolls and soap does add up and isn't something we can continually fund so we may have to start rationing.

"We know that you are struggling to get toilet rolls from the shops, but we really would ask people to not come and take toilet rolls from our toilets please.

"As a charity we cannot afford any increase in our costs.

"We couldn't really have loos without loo roll - we'd have to do a bring-your-own policy or something.

"We had supplied additional soap to ensure everyone could complete their 'happy birthday' hand washing, and this has now gone."

Staff published a plea on Facebook over the weekend, in a bid to discourage people from swiping the charity's resources.

"What was lovely was that within an hour of posting, someone had come in with donations of loo roll and soap," said Ms Daone. "It really restores your faith in humanity."

Anyone keen to support The Horsebridge can join its friends scheme at thehorsebridge.org.uk/friends.

For everything you need to know about the coronavirus in Kent, click here.

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