HEARTLESS thieves have stolen charity collection boxes containing hundreds of pounds in donations from Poole's famous Runton Road Christmas lights display.

Bournemouth Echo:

For decades residents of this quiet cul-de-sac have delighted children and families with their flamboyant festive displays. Last year £8,500 was raised for good causes as thousands flocked to see them.

Bournemouth Echo:

But on Friday night they were horrified to discover that two of the collection tins, which were tied to posts outside their homes, were taken on one of the busiest nights since the switch on event a week ago. One was later found emptied and discarded in the garden of a house further along the road.

Mick Philips, who has lived on Runton Road for 29 years and taken part in the annual decorating fun for a quarter of a century, said they are likely to have contained as much as £300 which was intended for Forest Holme Hospice and to help fulfil the dreams of seven-year-old Mason White, who has the debilitating skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Mick added: "I'm absolutely disgusted. We go to so much trouble and people give their hard-earned cash and then you get scumbags who come along and take it.

"We pay for everything ourselves. It takes three of us two days to put the lights up. It's hard work, but we do it every year and we're pleased to do it. But when something like this happens it leaves a nasty taste.

"The box was right below a sign saying what we were collecting for and they still pinched it. For them to steal money from a poorly little boy and a hospice which helps people is just the lowest of the low."

His wife Nancy added: "It gives people so much pleasure, but we also do it for our charities. We used to have collection buckets just in the garden and nothing ever happened. This is the first time anything has gone."

Neighbour Rob Cowe, a resident of the street for 50 years, also had his collection box taken. He said: "We will still carry on collecting - all we'll do is chain everything down. They are not going to beat us."

The incident has been reported to Dorset Police.

Mick offered heartfelt thanks to his long-time friend Carlo Marsango, a local businessman, who has said he will donate £200 to make up for the theft, and Steve Masterman, manager of Halfords on Ringwood Road, which is donating three thick bike lock chains to better secure the collection tins in future.