POLICE and charity workers are appealing for a thief to return £600 in takings left on a pavement.

The canvas bag containing the cash was left outside the Second Chance Animal Rescue’s shop in West End’s High Street.

Shop manager Wendy Jarvis had got into her car in a hurry after closing the shop at 4pm on Thursday leaving the bag behind.

When she realised she had left it behind she immediately turned her car around but by the time she got back it had gone.

Now the police are reminding the public that anyone who finds goods or money and fails to hand it in to police or return it to its rightful owner could be guilty of the offence of theft by finding.

The bag is described as an old looking cloth shopping bag with Jane Norman printed on it in pink.

As well as the cash there was also a contacts book with names and addresses of the charity and its volunteers.

The money made at the shop goes to looking after more than 70 cats, 25 dogs and small pets currently at the animal shelter on Mansbridge Road, Southampton.

Wendy, 51, from West End, said: “It made me feel sick that I’d lost money that wasn’t mine. It’s a charity’s money. We’re only a little charity and that was a lot of money to lose.

“That sort of money would pay for at least three dog neuters or a whole week’s worth of food.

“It’s a little village and everyone knows each other so there’s always hope that it might be returned.”

Rose Milne, who runs the shelter, said: “I’m absolutely shocked.

“I’d like to think that if anybody knows who has done this they would come forward. People would definitely have known who the money belongs to.”

The police are appealing to the person who found the money to take it to their nearest police station.

Anyone with any information about the money should contact PC Bernadette Jones at Hedge End police station on 101.