MEMBERS of a community hub have condemned “disgusting” thieves who stole a charity collection box in aid of a cancer-stricken woman.

Four armed robbers caused thousands of pounds worth of damage when they broke into the Ferryhill Hub, formerly Ferryhill Leisure Centre, in the early hours of Monday morning.

Smashing their way into the Hub’s bar, they stole money from the gambling machine as well as the charity collection box from behind the bar.

The box, in aid of mother-of-three Amie Siddle, who found out she had cancer after moving to Canada in 2014, is thought to have had more than £600 in it.

The 36-year-old, formerly of Chilton, is trying to raise $30,000 to help pay for her medical treatment and the community has rallied to help her.

Speaking from Canada, Ms Siddle, said: "I can’t believe how sick people are to actually break into somewhere and take other people's belongings but to take charity boxes is the lowest of the low.

"The money that has been raised by so many kind thoughtful generous people was to help towards my treatments that I so desperately need to help save my life.

"I hope that these scumbags are found and get the punishment they deserve or if they have any ounce of decency in them to come forward and hand themselves in. God forbid one day they might be in my situation and need to raise funds towards treatments for themselves."

The Ferryhill Community Partnership, which took over the centre in 2012 and caters for more than five groups with everything from a bowls club to a nursery, said it will now consider even tougher security measures following the attack, the second in six months.

The Partnership’s secretary, Brian Gibson, called the robbers “scum”.

“We have fought for four years to keep this place open so every penny we have counts and has to count,” he said. “We worked tirelessly to invite the people back in and it’s a great success so it’s a set back but we will get over it.”

Barmaid, Katie Graham, said she could not believe her eyes when she watched back the CCTV which she said showed the robbers use a crowbar and sledgehammer to break into the centre.

“They were inside less than a minute; they knew exactly what they were going for,” she said. “We are absolutely devastated about the collection tin because it was nearly full.”

Miss Graham added: “They are just sickening. To take from a person is one thing but to take from a charity is just absolutely disgusting.”

Mr Gibson said the box would now be kept in a separate location on a night and the money stolen would be fully replaced.

The Partnership is also considering a shutter to secure the hub after the men managed to smash their way through a heavy-duty security door.

The police confirmed an investigation is underway although it is understood no arrests have yet been made.

If you have any information call the police on 101.