THE mother of a girl who had some of the money she raised for charity stolen is “flabbergasted” by the influx of new donations.

Mum Julie Hambleton said she was “in tears” after offers flooded in following the Lancashire Telegraph report about the break-in at Ward & Co hairdressers, in Deardengate, Haslingden.

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Customers of the salon donated £80 to a fund set up by Amelia Hambleton, 12, to aid a cancer charity. But the money was stolen when the salon was burgled overnight on February 6.

Mrs Hambleton praised the town’s residents after a further £200 was raised in the week after the crime. The money will go towards the campaign launched by Amelia, who had her 12in ponytail cut off to create a wig for children’s cancer charity The Little Princess Trust.

Mrs Hambleton, from Bacup, said: “People have been so kind. One man walked in and made out a cheque to the charity for £50. He said:‘Amelia, you are doing just great. This world needs more people like you’. Then The Foresters Arms pub in Pleasant Street donated £80.

“These are the genuine, wonderful people of Haslingden. It is fantastic. It is so sad that this had to happen. We were all in tears when I told Amelia about the burglary.

“Amelia was so upset but we have been blown away by the response.”

Salon owner Natalie Ward was due to hand over the £80 to Mrs Hambleton the day before the burglary, but held on as she wanted her customers and staff to break the £100 barrier.

Amelia, a pupil of Haslingden High School, has now raised £848 — exceeding her revised target of £700 — which will go towards the purchase of two wigs for the charity.

Mrs Hambleton said: “A huge thank you to the wonderful people of Haslingden who have donated money after they heard about the theft from the salon. It has restored our faith in human nature.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/little-princess to donate.