Poppy Appeal collection stolen from Shropshire church

The collection box at St Mary's Church was reported missing to the Market Drayton Royal British Legion Club after thieves made off with the donations.

Police and town leaders have branded the crime "disgusting" and have called for any information to be reported.

Mayor Tim Beckett said: "It is very concerning at the moment as we seem to be having criminals stooping to new lows.

"In recent weeks they have targeted charity shops but this is even lower. They know what they are doing as Sunday would have been the last service before Remembrance weekend – the box would have had more cash in than at any other time.

"If people know who these offenders are they need to report them to the police to get them dealt with. We need these people off the streets in our town."

The theft, which was reported on Friday, comes ahead of the town's Remembrance weekend beginning on Saturday and follows a spate of break-ins to local charity shops.

PC Mick Sturland of the Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "There have been a couple of charity shop break ins recently which I abhor.

"To break into charity shops which exist to raise much needed donations for worthy causes is disgusting.

"Someone will know who these offenders are and I urge them to dig deep into their conscience and report it to us or in confidence to Crimestoppers."

With donations now being counted up to send to the Poppy Appeal, the RBL has said it is disappointed with the theft.

Len Birch, the Market Drayton Poppy Appeal organiser, said: "We are really disappointed. To have donations stolen is very upsetting and it is even more disappointing when money is stolen from a church.

"We don't know how much is in there, but we are still sending off the other boxes of course.

"We have had boxes stolen around the town in the past a few years ago, but it is still very sad."

To report any information about the thefts, contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.