HEARTLESS raiders stole charity cash raised in memory of a man who died four years ago – and spilled his ashes on his mother’s floor.

John Causer was a supporter of the Prince's Trust and died in 2011 at the age of 22. His family set up the John Causer Trust in his honour, to help young people buy equipment or training to help them gain further education or job opportunities.

But last week thieves broke into his mother's home in Gate Helmsley, York, and stole £300 that had been raised at a car boot sale, and spilled his ashes from their container during a search of the house.

John's sister Faye was visiting her mother's home and is thought to have disturbed the burglars, and said the family was heartbroken by the event.

"I went to my mother's house on my lunch to walk her dog and police say they think I must have disturbed them because of the things they left behind,” she said.

"They disturbed the ashes of my little brother, which is the most heartbreaking thing. They must have thought it was a jewellery box and it got strewn across the room when they realised."

A police spokesman said nobody had yet been arrested over the theft, but the investigation was continuing.