AN APPEAL has been launched by police after a man was allegedly caught on CCTV stealing cash from a charity box.

Officers have launched an investigation after footage of a man tampering with a collection box owned by Donna’s Dream House – a charity which helps fulfill the dreams of terminally ill children – was caught on film.

The incident happened at Great Harwood Tyres in Great Harwood, police said.

The alleged theft has been described as ‘utterly despicable’. The collection box, for the Blackpool-based children’s charity, along with packets of sweets given as thanks for donating, was in the reception area of the Heys Lane business on Tuesday.

The firm’s owner Asim Rauf, said he realised something was amiss when he saw the plastic box had been dismantled.

He said: “We open at 9am and a man was waiting at 8.45am when my first employee arrived.

“Being helpful, he was attended to before we officially opened. He bought two tyres, paid in cash and waited in the reception area where the collection box was while they were fitted.

"Later that morning I noticed the box had been tampered with. It probably only had a few coins in it, a few pounds at most, but my heart sank.”

Asim, 34, who has owned the business for four years, said: “I immediately reviewed the CCTV. We’d only had the tray a couple of weeks and were just trying to raise a few quid for this lovely cause. It really depresses me that people can behave in such a way.”

Police have now issued a description of a man they want to speak to in connection with the alleged theft. He was wearing a black and white fleece style top and a dark woolly hat.

He was also driving a silver Ford Fiesta car.Donna’s Dream House provides free holiday experiences for children and teenagers with life-threatening illnesses and recently bereaved siblings and their families.

A police spokesman said they were continuing to investigate the alleged theft but no arrests had been made.

He said: “I urge anyone with information about the incident or who recognises the description of the man to call police on 101 quoting log 885 of February 2.”