A giant banner advertising a fundraising event in aid of St Leonard's Hospice has been stolen in what organisers have called a "sick prank".

The plastic banner, attached to railings outside York College in Tadcaster Road, advertised the joint college and St Leonard's Hospice community fun day aimed at raising cash for the Hospice 2000 Appeal.

Jill Sissons, an organiser of the event on behalf of York College, said: "It's been up there for over a week and it's our biggest source of publicity on Tadcaster Road because people drive by and see it.

"The aim of the event is to raise as much money as we can for the hospice, bearing in mind it's near the £2 million mark and we want to tip the scales in one day. Which sick person would take something like that?"

The four by 1.5-metre banner advertises the event which takes place between noon and 4pm on June 30.

Updated: 10:56 Friday, June 22, 2001