A thief stole a charity box containing cash destined to help sick children two days before Christmas.

The man tried to open the till at the Chestnut Tree House charity shop in Montague Street in Worthing on December 23 at about 4pm.

When he found it securely locked, he then grabbed the collection box after throwing other items on the counter to the floor.

Manager Linda Abraham was in the stock room at the time of the incident.

She said: “It all happened so quickly.

“I came out and all the stuff such as the till and the keyboard had been thrown to the ground.

“It was more upsetting because there was a young volunteer with me helping.

“Thankfully the shop was empty.

“If the volunteer had been at the till where he usually is then it would have been horrible. I do not know what the thief would have done.

“And it is of course upsetting he is stealing from a children’s charity.”

Lucky the collecting boxes are emptied daily and the stolen tin is thought to have contained just £2.

The hospice has received more than 100 messages of support after posting the incident on their Facebook page.

A spokesman for the hospice added: “We are deeply saddened and shocked that anyone would target our shop which is raising money to help local sick children, particularly at Christmas time.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “A man went into the Chestnut Tree House hospice charity shop in Montague Street, Worthing, on December 23 and stole a collecting tin containing cash from the counter at about 4pm.

“He ran off into the street.

“He is described as 5ft 6in, slim with a bald head and wearing a dark top and trousers.

“Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting serial 0958 of 23/12 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk.”