Thieves used cutters to remove a charity box collecting money for people with disabilities.

The box had been fastened down with a chain at the Scope charity shop, in The Broadway, Bexleyheath.

Store manager Sarah Walters said one person had asked the assistant manager to the back of the store at the time the charity box was taken.

She said: "It's gutting to have this happen but there are desperate people out there. It is just a sad sign of the times. It's become a fact of life."

Scope charity shop area manager said: “It’s very disheartening when anyone steals from a charity shop.

“Our staff and dedicated volunteers in Bexleyheath work incredibly hard.

“All the money raised goes towards our vital work with disabled people and their families.”

Police said they were called to the shop on Saturday morning (December 2) and that the box had been reported stolen between 9am and 10.30am

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC.

The shop will be holding a dress-up bake sale on December 9 to raise more funds for the charity.