HEARTLESS thieves have stolen charity collection boxes from the Women's Royal Voluntary Service shop at Warrington Hospital.

The thieves broke into the shop and helped themselves to the boxes, which contained about £60 in cash collected by volunteers.

The theft happened between March 16 and 19, while renovation work was going on in the hospital's outpatients department.

The shop is normally alarmed but the facility had been switched off while maintenance work was carried out.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said that the locks have since been changed and the alarm re-connected. The shop is secured every night and at weekends.

A spokesman for Warrington police said: "This is a despicable thing to do, taking charity money. If anyone knows anything about the offence or the whereabouts of the money, we would urge them to get in touch."

Anyone with information can call the police on 652222.