CHARITY money raised by a Haslingden High School pupil was stolen during a break-in at a hairdressers.

Criminals took around £80 raised by Amelia Hambleton, who had her 12in ponytail cut off to help children with cancer.

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The break-in at Ward & Co, in Deardengate, Haslingden, is the latest in a series of burglaries at businesses in the town centre. The raid on the salon also saw hundreds of pounds’ worth of equipment — including hairdryers, straighteners, fake tan and make-up — taken.

Salon owner Natalie Ward said: “It is disgraceful what this town is coming to. I have girls who work here who are afraid to walk to and from work alone.We are getting threatened and the police seem to take an age to do anything about it.”

Amelia, 12, has raised £643 for the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children who lose their hair during cancer treatment. The money raised at the hairdressers would have been added to the total.

Her ponytail was chopped off by Miss Ward at a special assembly in front of classmates last month.

Amelia’s mum Julie Hambleton said: “I feel sick. She has put so much effort into this and surpassed her target by a huge amount.”

A police spokesman said the break-in at Ward & Co happened between 7pm on February 6 and 10am on February 7.

Sgt Mick McBain, of Lancashire Constabulary, held a meeting with shop owners on Monday to discuss the raids.