CASH set aside to help orphans in Kenya has been stolen from a Kidderminster church.

A collection tin, containing about £50, was stolen from St John the Baptist Church, where congregation members had been donating the money they would otherwise have spent on Christmas cards, to the orphans of Omwabini.

Congregation member Peter Nailer said that although it was a small sum of money he was “very annoyed” about the theft.

Mr Nailer said: “We also had the poppy box stolen last year. I think that the church should be more vigilant by putting the money away so we’re going to start putting it into a safe.

“My wife Anne and I will be collecting future money for the Christmas card collection.

“They [the thieves] are silly people – if they had waited two weeks, they would have been about £100.

“It’s only a little sum of money but we are very annoyed. It’s the orphans who they’ve stolen the money off.”

The theft took place between noon on Thursday, December 5, and the morning of December 6.

Each year, church members sign a large communal card instead of giving individual Christmas cards.

Rev Derek Arnold said: “All of our collection boxes used to be at the front of the church. It’s very easy for someone just to pop in and take the money.

“We’ve got quite a close relationship with the orphanage – one of our congregation goes to visit quite regularly.

“Some people are desperate, for whatever reason. I have to understand people’s desperation at this time of year.”

Anyone with information should call West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident 180-S- 171213.