COMMUNITY leaders have described a cruel conwoman who has ruined a Hampshire family’s Christmas by stealing thousands of pounds they had set aside to buy food and presents as “the lowest of the low”.

The fraudster duped staff at a social club into handing over the hard-earned cash – using a funeral wake as a cover.

She slipped into Totton Recreation Club in Rumbridge Street and stole £2,500 after posing as the daughter of a Christmas club saver.

Using the names of a genuine saver and his daughter she claimed she had been asked to collect her father’s money, which had been building up for months to fund the family’s Christmas.

She was given the cash in two envelopes – despite failing to supply any form of identification.

Staff dealing with the wake are thought to have been too busy to ask for ID and assumed the woman was genuine, only to discover later that they had been conned.

Chris Lagdon, a town, district and county councillor for Totton, condemned what he described a “heinous crime”.

He added: “How can anyone stoop so low? I appreciate that some people are on the breadline but you have to be a certain type of person to do something like that. It’s unbelievable.”

Totton councillor David Harri-son described it as a despicable theft.

He added: “It’s astounding how evil some people can be.”

A police spokesman said: “Using the names of a legitimate saver and his daughter, the woman said she had been sent to collect her father’s savings.

“She was given the cash in two envelopes and left without supplying any identification.”

PC Jason Andrews, heading the investigation, added: “The club was busy at the time because of the wake.

“I’d like to remind businesses and the general public to ensure that identification is requested in situations like this. The suspect must have links to the club because she knew the names of the member and his daughter.”

Neville Penman, former chairman of the town council, said: “Stealing someone’s Christmas savings is a disgusting thing to do.

“The victims will be absolutely devastated. They would have been looking to use the money to buy food and presents.”

Last night one club member said: “I hadn’t heard anything about it. It’s absolutely awful.” The thief is described as white, mid to late twenties, very slim and of medium height. She has blue eyes and short gingery/brown hair that was curly at the front. She was wearing black trousers or jeans and a black jumper over a dark mauve V-neck top.

A club spokesman was unavailable for comment.

The theft occurred on December 6 at about 4.15pm. Anyone with information should call PC Andrews at Hythe on 101.