HARD up children in the West End of Morecambe could suffer after heartless thieves stole toys donated for them from a local church while 250 people listened to Handel's Messiah next door.

Sefton Road United Reform Church was broken into during a performance of Handel's Messiah on Sunday afternoon and two bin bags full of toys donated by children at a special service that morning were stolen.

The parishioners listening to the concert next door didn't hear the glass being smashed on a fire escape window because of the noise from the concert.

The toys were to be handed over to the West End toys service for distribution to needy children in that area this Christmas.

The church's secretary, Jackie Corbett, said: "It is not good enough.

"We do this every year and every year the toys go to the children of the West End, where we are based.

"It is the children who are going to suffer."

Police say the burglars broke in to the choir vestry via a fire escape between 2.15pm and 3.55pm on Sunday while an estimated 250 members of the public were enjoying the performance in the church.

They took two bin bags full of toys, with an estimated value of £100, and left another two bags by the door through which they made their escape.

A search was made of the Sefton Road area, but nothing was found.

Det Sgt Mark Salisbury of Morecambe police said: "It is bad enough to burgle the church itself, but to steal toys donated to children at Christmas time beggars belief."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Morecambe police on 01524 63333.