OXFAM works in more than 70 countries around the world, trying to bring about change and alleviate poverty for the most cruelly disadvantaged of people.

This magnificent effort is all the more impressive because it is, in part, based on the work of local charity shops which raise money by selling donated clothes and other items.

So when Oxfam saves lives through emergency response, provides food for the starving or leads campaigns against world poverty, shops throughout the land are all playing a part - none more so than the thriving branch in Goodramgate, York.

Many people in York give clothes to this shop, which is often sought out by those in search of second-hand chic. Sadly, the shop is also in demand by those with nastier motives.

Oxfam manager Kate Frankish reports that thieves are stealing clothes from her shop, and in doing so denying hundreds of pounds a year to the world's poor.

Two silver sequin dresses worth £60 each were stolen from the charity store - and a £20 sheepskin coat was damaged when a large hole was cut in the back, presumably by someone in search of repair material.

Such behaviour is nasty and mean-spirited. Every pound raised by Oxfam is put to good use alleviating the lives of the world's poorest people. And every time some low-minded thief steals from the store, help is denied to those who are most gravely in need.

As Ms Frankish points out, the £20 lost thanks to that damaged coat could have provide 350 school meals in Africa.

That's 350 reasons why the thieves and shoplifters should feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

Updated: 09:56 Monday, January 02, 2006