A CANCER survivor has hit out at thieves who targeted her pub and stole cash from her charity fundraising pot.

It is the second raid on the Loders Arms in the village of Loders in eight weeks.

The latest incident took place between 6.30pm on Sunday, July 20 and 9.15pm the following evening and cash was stolen from a collection due to be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

The pub was also broken into on May 27 under similar circumstances, with a quantity of cash and alcohol taken.

Police have said there is no evidence the break-ins are linked, but they are treating it as a possibility.

Landlady Carolyn Bowmaster who battled breast cancer two years ago, said discovering the break-in this week was a ‘terrible shock’ but added that it hasn’t put her and husband Kevin off staying at the pub after taking over on a temporary basis in May.

She said: “Last time the thieves broke in they stole hundreds of pounds, one bottle of brandy and a bottle of vodka.

“We were upstairs asleep during that time, came down in the morning and found the till drawer downstairs on the floor by the fireplace.

“Palmers Brewery came the very same day back in May and fitted new reinforced locks to all the doors, they were brilliant. We thought that was the end of it but I had a sinking feeling it wouldn’t be.

“When we got to the pub on Monday evening it had happened again.

“The saddest part of it all is that this time they stole money I raised personally and that the Loders community had given towards Macmillan Cancer Support. I had breast cancer two years ago, had a mastectomy and now have the all clear – which is why I am raising money for Macmillan and will take part in their World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in September.

“I will replace every penny of the money but there are just no words to say about it. It is so difficult to understand why someone would do something like this.”

Carolyn added that alarms will be fitted in the pub this week by Palmers Brewery.

Beat manager at Beaminster Police Station, Tim Poole, pictured left, told The News that a window pane was broken on the ground floor – which is how police believe entry was gained.

He said: “A charity collection worth £56 and bottles of alcohol were taken.

“A priority for crime prevention is to put in an alarm system, and if anyone wants to know more they can contact their local safer neighbourhood team. We would urge anyone who knows anything about this incident to contact Dorset Police, quoting crime reference number 29712.”