Story by: TOM JACKSON WISBECH Salvation Army has been forced to spend more than £200 on new locks for it s hall after a handbag – containing keys – were stolen at a Christmas fund-raiser. Major Rob Smart was forced to make the hefty payment after the bag

Story by: TOM JACKSON

WISBECH Salvation Army has been forced to spend more than £200 on new locks for it's hall after a handbag - containing keys - were stolen at a Christmas fund-raiser.

Major Rob Smart was forced to make the hefty payment after the bag was stolen at the Carols for Christmas event on December 6.

The bag - owned by Major Smart's wife, Major Violet, contained keys to the Salvation Army hall in John Thompson Road.

Major Rob said: "It was such a lovely event, we raised £230 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, but the theft took all the gloss off the evening."

The handbag was left near the stage by Major Violet, when she went backstage to speak to someone. On her return, the bag had gone missing.

Major Rob said: "A key to the church was in there and as a result, we have had to change all the locks.

"The key automatically turns the premises alarm off, so anyone with a key could have just walked in and taken what they wanted.

"I have had to spend £200 on the new locks, and we had to call out a locksmith at night, but we have put a claim in and hopefully it will be all sorted."

The handbag also contained a purse and a wallet, with credit cards, bank cards, driving licence and national insurance cards inside.

n Anyone with information should contact the Salvation Army hall on 01945 461416, or Major Rob on 01945 583758. Alternatively, call police on 0845 456 4564.