A COUPLE of charity boxes have been stolen in Leigh in the last week.

At least two Marie Curie charity boxes have been stolen for its annual Daffodil Appeal with one of the locations confirmed as being Brookmill Medical Centre on College Street, which took place at some point last week.

One of them was found dumped on a footpath on St Helens Road near Pennington Flash Country Park.

Secretary of the Leigh Marie Curie Volunteer Group, John Harding, said: “It is extremely saddening that we have a small number of people in Leigh who steal the boxes for their own gain.

"They are, in effect, stealing the care that could be given to Leigh families."

Marie Curie volunteers will also be at the Morrisons store near Leigh Sports Village today, Thursday, tomorrow and Saturday co collect for the charity.

Mr Harding added: "The group members work extremely hard throughout the year raising funds to provide one-to-one nursing care in people’s homes during any terminal illness of a family member.

"This provides great support to the patient and their loved ones and is greatly needed in the area.

"All our group are volunteers and all the money raised goes to Marie Curie.

"There are not many families who have not been touched by cancer or other terminal illness and the people of Leigh give us fantastic support on the Daffodil Appeal and at other fundraising activities throughout the year and we are very grateful to them for that support."

Anyone with any information about charity box thefts contact the police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.