FUND raisers were devastated after the money they had collected to help young people was stolen at the Bolton Show.

The thieves stole the cash after being allowed into a hut the fund raisers were using to shelter from the rain.

Susan Hooton, a youth worker at the Outreach centre in Leverhulme Park, was running a stall at Sunday's event with a 15-year-old member of the centre, Nick Lomax.

They had raised £24 by selling snacks and bric-a brac which was going to be used towards the cost of buying crafts for young people to use at the centre.

But when it started to rain heavily, they invited a few members of the public to shelter in the hut and when they re-opened for business, the cash box had disappeared.

Susan, who has worked with the young people at the centre for four years, said: "Nick was absolutely devastated because he had been guarding the money with his life.

"We had been working for five hours and could have bought a lot of things with £24.

"It's made us not to want to bother in future."

Anyone with information about the theft should call Bolton police on 0161 872 5050.