9 February 2012 Last updated at 11:11 ET

Barnstaple children's centre memory stick stolen

A memory stick containing personal data of families who use a Devon children's centre has been stolen, a charity says.

Action for Children, which runs the Victoria House Children's Centre in Barnstaple, said the stick was in a staff member's handbag which was taken.

Centre manager Helen Hallam said the device contained information on a "small number of families".

She added that all of the families that used the centre had been informed and an investigation was taking place.

Ms Hallam, who said the police had been informed, said the information on the memory stick detailed the support provided to families.

She admitted the data stick should not have been in the staff member's bag as it contravened its policy and training, but that measures had been put in to place to prevent any recurrence.

She said: "We are taking all the appropriate actions as a matter of urgency."