POLICE are hunting thieves who broke into a Southampton pub and stole charity money.

Juliann Graham, landlady at The Anchor in Old Redbridge, was woken by her burglar alarm.

But it wasn’t until the next morning that she noticed thieves had broken in through the front window, stealing more than £700 from the tills, staff tip jars, punter’s lottery syndicate and charity tins.

The pub had been supporting, a charity founded three weeks ago by Southampton and Portsmouth football supporters to help pay for equipment, care and support five Hampshire children with disabilities.

Juliann, 49, said: “The thieves are disgusting. They’ve taken something that those little children need and the community have been fantastic in raising the money and supporting the pub.

“There is nothing lower than stealing from charity, so at the least I want them to hand the charity money back even if it’s anonymous.”

Tony Gailor, 50, pipe fitter and charity founder from Old Redbridge, said: “I’m totally gutted. They’ve come in and seen the pictures of those kids on that collection box and still taken that away from them.

“A lot of people will be very upset about that.”

A police spokesman said: “These criminals have sunk to a very low level as they have stolen money not only from those who use and work at the pub but also from the charities and organisations they were collecting for.”

Anyone with any information should call DC Dean Marsh-Clasby at Southampton central police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.