Con-artists have been leaving bogus charity boxes in shops across Walsall  telling people the money will go to underprivileged children.

Police have now launched an investigation after the bright-pink money boxes, which claim the cash will go to non-existent charity Kiddie Smiles, started appearing in shops.

The boxes claim to “bring happiness to children everywhere”. They were handed out to shops in Pelsall High Street and Norton Road earlier this month.

Dan Jackson, who runs Farmers Butchers in Norton Road, had one of the boxes and was told by police to take it off the counter.

He said: “We did have one. Someone just walked in to the shop and asked if we would put one on the counter, practically telling us to have one. A couple of days later the police were round telling us it was fake. I was quite shocked, it’s not good that they are trying to take money off people who want to give to charity.”

He added that since the box was only on the counter for a day or so, only about 30p had been collected. Police have alerted people in the town not to put cash into the boxes and have appealed for information on the scam.

Joanne Hunt, spokeswoman for West Midlands Police in Walsall, said: “The police found a box-load of the charity boxes outside a void property in Lichfield Street, and some have been distributed around shops in Pelsall. Inquiries are ongoing to find out a little bit more about it.”

She added if anyone knows anything about the boxes to contact police on 0345 113 5000.