HARD-HEARTED thieves stole charity money destined for a cash-strapped playgroup.
The Golcar Lily pub at Bolster Moor had taken the nearby Bolster Moor playgroup to its heart after it struggled to make ends meet in recent times.
The pub runs a lottery to boost playgroup funds and had also just run a Christmas hamper raffle.
All the money was in tins behind the bar, but was stolen by burglars who raided the pub between 1.30am and 7.30am on Friday.
They also took all the cash and cigarettes from the cigarette machine.
Golcar Lily owner Janet Swallow said: "It's all so disheartening and sickening.
"The tins were clearly marked `playgroup funds' so the thieves must have known it was for a good cause.
"It's a really small playgroup and they really do struggle."
The intruders forced their way into the pub through a door which has been replaced and reinforced.
