Thieves raid charity stall

Thieves have stolen items from a bring-and-buy stall run by an Ollerton pensioner in aid of a cancer support charity.

Mrs Beryl Banford (77) has run the stall to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support for almost a year and so far has raised more than £1,300.

The stall is in a corridor outside her home in the Delacy Court complex for the elderly.

Items are left on a table and customers are asked to leave a donation with Mrs Banford if they want to buy any of the goods.

Mrs Banford said that since the stall had opened two televisions, a travel clock, a child’s pushchair and jewellery had been stolen.

She said: “It really upsets me that people feel the need to steal from this stall when the money is going towards such a good cause.

“If there are people who want items from the sale, and they haven’t got the money, then I would gladly give it to them. There is no need to steal.”

Mrs Banford set up the stall in memory of her brother, Mr Reubin Thompson (59) who suffered from mouth cancer and was visited by Macmillan nurses in the latter stages of his life.

“Those who have stolen the goods might find that they end up relying on the Macmillan nurses at some point in the their life,” said Mrs Banford.

Pc Reg Adamson, of Worksop police, said: “I condemn the behaviour of the thieves who have stolen from Beryl’s bring-and-buy sale. We will be monitoring the situation.”

Mrs Banford said she planned to continue to raise money for the Macmillan charity despite the thefts.

Maureen Rutter, the Macmillan regional director, said Mrs Banford’s bring-and-buy sale was a lovely way to raise money for Macmillan and she was impressed at how much money she had raised so far.

“However, it saddens me that she has had items stolen from her,” she said.

“To steal is a low act but to steal from someone trying to raise money for charity scrapes the barrel.

“I wish Mrs Banford every success for the future and hope this is the last we hear of items being stolen.”