CALLOUS thieves stole cash from a playgroup then left a gloating note for their victims.

Staff and tots at Eckington Under Fives playgroup are distraught at losing the cash they raised to rebuild the village's dilapidated recreation centre.

The theft was discovered when the children came in for their session last Wednesday morning.

Offenders had broken into the Pershore Road centre - used by the playgroup as well as various sports groups also raising cash for the rebuild - and stole £60.

Playgroup supervisor Sarah Fincher described her horror when she also found the thieves had left a note saying 'We robbed you ****** blind' and stole chocolates intended as a treat for the youngsters.

It follows a spate of vandalism on the building, which reached its peak over the Easter holidays, with drainpipes and planks being ripped up.

Mrs Fincher said: "I was so angry and upset because people have gone to a lot of trouble to raise this money.

"It doesn't seem much but it's just the whole issue that someone has got into the building and it's the children that would have benefited from this."

The burglary happened between noon on Monday, June 27, and 8.45am on Wednesday, June 29.

Half of the money stolen was raised through tickets sold for a raffle at the playgroup's fete on Saturday and was for the centre rebuild project - expected to cost about £500,000 and for which the community has been fund-raising for about 18 months.

The other half had been raised by Mrs Fincher for Cancer Research through the Race For Life in Evesham she took part in last month.

Police are appealing for anyone with information on the theft to contact them on 08457 444888 quoting crime reference number 107S/290605. Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymous hotline on 0800 555111.