CALLOUS thieves have stolen charity cash from a wishing well - less than a week after it was installed.

Furious town councillors at Tadcaster today branded the culprits "scum".

The wishing well was installed in Kirkgate, Tadcaster, last Monday, complete with a hanging basket of flowers, with all money thrown into the well to go to the British Heart Foundation.

It was put next to the town council offices after a special request from nine-year-old local lad, Andrew Hill, who thought it would be a novel way of raising money for charity.

But on Sunday night, only six days after it was installed, it was attacked by yobs.

Under the cover of darkness, they jemmied the metal grille off before helping themselves to the coins at the bottom of the well.

They then ripped out geraniums from the hanging basket and emptied the compost into the well.

Town councillor Richard Sweeting said: "Whoever did this must be sick. We try to do something for the town and this happens.

"How anyone can stoop so low I don't know. It's disgusting and the culprits should hang their heads in shame."

A town council spokeswoman said the grille was well anchored down and it must have taken quite a bit of force to prise it off.

The wishing well is in the shape of a barrel, in keeping with the town's brewery status. It was decorated with flowers as part of the council's efforts to win this year's Britain In Bloom competition.

Tadcaster Chamber of Trade chairman Angela Usher said: "Everybody, including the British Heart Foundation, is gutted. It's absolutely dreadful."

Councillor Don Bain-Mackay said: "There's only one word to describe who did this and that's scum."

Police plan to trawl through CCTV footage, in the hope that the thieves can be identified.

Sergeant Chris Witty said: "It's sad and I would very much like to know who has done it."

Anyone with information should phone the police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 10:35 Tuesday, July 22, 2003