A HEARTLESS thief has struck again at Tavistock Parish Church’s Christmas Tree Festival.

A donation box for pancreatic cancer, containing £250, was snatched after being unwound from the base of the charity’s tree on Saturday, December 7 — just six days after a large bell-shaped jar containing more than £100 for the church was stolen.

Jean Keast, the Devon representative for Pancreatic Cancer, said: ‘When the tree was taken down all that was left were two pennies and an old battery.’

The tree was hanging with the names of 130 pancreatic cancer victims from around the world.

Jean, who lost her brother Paul to pancreatic cancer five-and-a-half years ago, felt choked when the theft was discovered. ‘I was so upset by it I couldn’t stop crying. It’s bad enough stealing from the church but to steal the cancer money, it’s beyond belief.

‘May God forgive them because I can’t.’

But as news travelled, donations started pouring in through Jean’s link to the charity’s JustGiving website. ‘It’s fantastic. I’m so touched by that. I have worked damned hard to raise money since losing my husband.’

The festival Christmas tree was described in the programme as ‘in loving memory of all purple angels and the brave purple warriors currently battling’. Hanging from it were the names of people in places as far away as America, Australia, Holland and Ireland.

Since the thefts, individuals and businesses have rallied round to give generously — with a donation of £208 from nine-year-old schoolgirl Abbi Jillians.

When Abbi heard about the theft of the church’s donations jar, she decided to put her own pocket money in a jar to help replace what was stolen. Her mum, Julie, put it on her stall in the Tavistock Pannier Market for anyone who felt they would like to add to it and on Sunday (December 8) mother and daughter presented the jar to the Very Rev Dr Chris Hardwick, following the Christingle service.

Julie said: ‘Abbi has done really well. She has expressed how much she loves this church. It was where she was christened so it’s pretty important to her.’

Judy Hannaford-Hirst, vice-chairman of The Friends of St Eustachius’ Church, who organise the festival, said that the Friends were sorry that a tree exhibitor’s donations box had been stolen

‘We are heartened and exceedingly grateful for all the donations that have been given to the Friends to compensate for what was stolen and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed. The community response following the thefts has been wonderful.

‘The Christmas tree festival is our biggest event of the year and all monies raised go towards enhancing, beautifying and maintaining the fabric of the church and these donations so kindly given, will be helping to do just that.’

In the last ten years the Friends group has raised more than £110,000 and this, its 11th annual festival, made a total £16,000.

Mr Hardwick added: ‘Those who so kindly give to the church and those who work hard to fundraise for it are its life force, with everyone sharing that one common aim and that is to see the church thriving, as it continues to serve the community long into the future.’