HEARTLESS thieves who stole three charity boxes from a York fish and chip shop were today branded "lowlife".

One of the boxes was for donations to a charity conducting vital research into a rare illness which tragically took the life of the baby daughter of one of the shop's employees.

York police today urged anyone with any information about the theft to contact them.

Lily Mae Hill died in January from the most severe form of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) after being born with just a 20 per cent chance of surviving to her first birthday.

Since her death, her parents Leeann and Steve - a former York Wasps prop - from Tang Hall, have been deeply involved in raising money for the Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

A collection box was put in Frier Tuck's takeaway in Haley's Terrace, where both Leeann and her mother, Elaine Cain, work.

But on Thursday night the reinforced shop door was smashed in and the box, together with others for the Royal National Mission To Deep Sea Fishermen and Scope, all of which were chained up following a previous theft, was stolen.

Mrs Cain, who agreed to a picture of baby Lily Mae being published, said: "This is a charity very close to our hearts and we are devastated.

"Leeann has been doing her utmost to raise money for the charity for research into the illness and this is such a blow - it's heartbreaking.

"Whoever did this are complete lowlife to be stealing money meant for a charity. They must be pretty desperate."

It is unknown how much was in the three collection boxes, but all three were half full.

Leeann did a parachute jump for the charity only last week which raised more than £2,000 for research into the disease.

Spinal muscular atrophy makes muscles waste away and is incurable. One in 40 parents has the gene, and the disease is only passed on if both mother and father carry it.

Leeann and Steve were unaware of the risk of the disease - and neither of them knew it existed - until Lily Mae was diagnosed with it after birth.

A York police spokeswoman appealed for anyone with information about the theft, or who finds the boxes, to contact them on 01904 631321.

Updated: 12:01 Saturday, April 28, 2001