£2k taken from charity shop

A husband and wife team who have been raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support by selling designer clothes for knockdown prices have been left stunned after nearly £2,000 in takings was stolen from the shop.

Brian and Penny Strickland along with other volunteers working at the shop, in Stourbridge's Crown Centre, are devastated by the theft of the cash, most of which was due to go to Macmillan. Mrs Strickland, aged 57, started fundraising two years ago for the cancer charity.

She ran a stall on Stourbridge's fortnightly farmers markets before renting the shop in the centre for a four-week period to try and shift all her stock.

Her husband Brian, aged 70, took the takings to bank on Good Friday without realising it was a bank holiday.

Mrs Strickland of Hyde Lane, Kinver, said: "He had them in his coat pocket and came back to the shop, took his coat off and left it in the back room, which we use as a tea room for the staff.

"I suppose it was stupid of us in a way but we had both been ill and our heads were all over the place. We normally use a trolley to block the entrance to that room but on Friday one of the ladies noticed the trolley had been moved.

"Brian went out the back and checked his coat and the money was gone.

"We don't know who has taken it but I cant believe it would be one of the volunteers here. It must have been someone taking a chance who just got lucky."

Mrs Strickland said £800 of the £1,800 taken was due to be used to buy new stock to be sold, with the rest going to Macmillan.

"Brian and I will have to replace this out of our own money now, because there is no way I will see Macmillan lose out," she said.

"It is just devastating, we have a great team here, we are trying to do something different and working ever so hard. You can't believe anyone would do anything like this."

There were cheques among the stolen takings and Mrs Strickland urged any customer who paid by cheque last week to return to the shop.

Police are also investigating the incident. Anyone with information can contact Stourbridge police on 0845 113 5000 or telephone Mrs Strickland on 01384 878987.