THOUSANDS of pounds in cash belonging to a Blackburn pensioner blew down Blackpool prom after his life savings in a Quality Street tin were stolen.

Walter Morris, 75, had £26,000 taken as he was playing a slot machine at the destination’s Coral Island amusements, a court heard.

Liam Davis, 23, and a 17-year-old pal thought they were stealing chocolates and even tried to sell the tin for £5.

But after finding no takers outside they opened the tin and £6,000 blew away.

They then took £13,000 and began a shopping spree, dumping the tin with £7,000 still inside nearby.

They were eventually caught, having spent a small amount of the cash on a mobile phone and some clothes.

At Lancaster Crown Court both Davis, of Penrose Avenue, Marton, and the 17-year-old from Blackpool, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to theft.

The court heard Mr Morris, who had been on a trip to Blackpool, has been given back just short of £20,000 of the money but the £6,000 which blew down the prom remains unaccounted for.

Kirsten McAteer, prosecuting, said they grabbed the pensioner’s bag believing it contained chocolates and tried to sell it.

But she said that when no-one would buy the tin, they decided to open it up.

They were so shocked by what they saw inside, she said, that hundreds of the notes blew down the promenade, chased by holidaymakers.

She said: “The victim said he put the bag on the floor while he was playing some gaming machines. He was then told by a lady his bag had been taken.

"This was an opportunist theft from the old man who had left the tin in a bag at his feet as he played."

Bunty Batra, for Davis, said his client had made ‘a spur of the moment decision’ while the pair were passing through Coral Island on April 24 last year.

He said: “As they walked through the arcade, Davis saw this bag and grabbed it.

“None of the defendants knew the complainant. There is no suggestion the complainant was targeted or that they knew what was in the bag.”

In a statement, Davis said: “I thought the tin did indeed contain chocolates. I tried to sell the tin for £5. I gave up and decided to eat some of the chocolates.

"I opened the tin and inside there were £50 and £20 notes. I showed my friend and we decided to spilt it.”

Davis took £11,750 and the teenager stole £1,800.

The Quality Street tin was later found containing the rest of the cash in front of Coral Island by a passer-by and handed to the police.

After being arrested, Davis handed back the money he stole, apart from £20.

Sarah Booth, defending the teenager, said: “It has always been the case that they believed it contained chocolates and tried to sell it on the street for £5.

“If someone had bought it, they would have got a big surprise.”

Coun Dorothy Walsh, older people's champion for Blackburn, said: "This should go out as a warning for older people. It's a real shame that this has happened and it is an alarming amount of money.

"Older people need to be aware of how to deal with their funds. That's not the kind of money that you should be walking around with."

The pair will be sentenced on Thursday, May 24.