A SHOP owner said he was ‘disgusted’ after a charity collection box was stolen.

Ikhlaq Hussain was alone in a back room of his hair salon in Randal Street, Blackburn, when a thief walked in and took a two-foot Coke bottle-shaped donation box from the counter.

Mr Hussain said: “I had no clients in, so I went into the back room to pick something up.

“I was there for only about a minute, and when I returned, I saw the box had gone. I hadn’t even heard anyone come in or any change jangling when it was moved.

“It was between half and three-quarters full, with at least £300 in it that clients have donated.”

Mr Hussain has been collecting since last summer for the Islamic Help charity which aims to build water pumps in disadvantaged countries.

Donations from customers at the Prince Salon have already paid for four pumps at £65 each.

He added: “I think it’s just awful. It’s worse stealing from a charity than if they had stolen from me.

“That money was meant for needy children who don’t have access to clean drinking water. It’s very sad it can happen.”

After the theft happened at 10.30am on Tuesday, Mr Hussain closed the shop and searched the area, asking neighbours if they had seen anyone leaving the salon with the box, but was unsuccessful.

Lancashire Constabulary confirmed the theft had been reported to officers.

A spokeswoman said: “The neighbourhood policing team is aware of the incident and is looking into it.”