A CALLOUS thief ransacked a charity campaigner s purse and stole her money while she was minding a stall at a fundraising event. Angela Ginn was manning one of the stalls at the Heartbeat Charity Day in St Mary s Hall, Ely, on Saturday, when £60 and a bo

A CALLOUS thief ransacked a charity campaigner's purse and stole her money while she was minding a stall at a fundraising event.

Angela Ginn was manning one of the stalls at the Heartbeat Charity Day in St Mary's Hall, Ely, on Saturday, when £60 and a book of first class stamps were stolen from her purse, which she had placed underneath a trestle table.

Organiser Patricia Canham, who with her husband Eddie founded the event 16 years ago to raise money for the Heartbeat medical support charity, said the theft marred an otherwise successful day.

"It upset everybody and it really did put a dampener on things," she said.

"Our helper concerned does not work due to ill health and she and her sister have campaigned tirelessly to raise money for Heartbeat - although very upset by the incident, she has pledged her commitment yet again for the coming year."

She said nobody saw the theft take place, or suspected there was a thief in their midst.

Despite the setback, the event was once again a successful one for the group, which began life 16 years ago after Eddie Canham became ill and wanted to support a local medical charity.

The couple began by organising a small coffee morning for friends and family, but the event soon gathered momentum and is now an annual charity day at St Mary's Church Hall, with stalls, games, toys and cakes - the charity has now raised an incredible £23,000.

Mrs Canham said she wished to offer her thanks to everybody who helped out at Saturday's event, which was opened by Ely mayor John Ison.