Bridport Post Office staff have been left 'upset and angry' following the theft of a Poppy Appeal collection tin.

A man was reportedly seen stealing the collection pot from the town centre's West Street post office at 4.30pm on Tuesday October 31.

Staff have been left asking how someone 'could stoop so low' to steal donations that provide support for serving and ex-serving personnel and their families as Bridport prepares to honour the war dead on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday this weekend. 

Jo Banfield, manager of the Bridport branch, said: “It is with great sadness that on Tuesday of last week our poppy collection pot was stolen from the post office. I cannot believe someone would do this.

“We are all very upset and angry that someone could stoop so low to take charity money.”

CCTV footage of the suspected thief has been passed on to Dorset Police.

Jo added: “I think we have always had a poppy collection tin, hopefully it didn’t contain too much as it was a new pot put out with the poppies, but any amount in my mind is too much.

“We have never had a poppy pot stolen before, but I think about 10 years ago another charity pot was taken. We do have another collection pot which is chained to the counter which is there all year.”

The collection tin had only been at the post office for about a week, as it was an additional one brought in in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday.

Despite it not being chained, it had several cable ties attached to it – meaning they had to be cut for the pot to be taken.

Mike Thompson, who organises the Poppy Appeal in Bridport, said: “I did speak to the post office staff on Tuesday, and the Bridport Royal British Legion are extremely disappointed that a collection tin has been removed.

“It takes away vital funds that ultimately help vulnerable serving and retired veterans who require financial help.”

A spokesperson from the Royal British Legion added: “We are greatly disturbed to hear of the theft of a poppy collecting tin.

"This loss will deprive those in the service and ex-service community and their families of much needed assistance and support from the Royal British Legion.”