Ref. 74416-94Thieves who hurled a large boulder through the window of a Swindon estate agents made off with a charity collection bucket.

Staff at Connells Estate Agents, on Orbital Retail Park, said the rock used to smash the glass panel in the door was bigger than a football.

They arrived yesterday morning to find the damage left by the break-in.

They said they were shocked that someone would stoop so low as to steal a collection bucket containing cash destined for the NSPCC.

The bucket, which was on a windowsill at the front of the shop, contained about £30.

The incident happened at about 10.30pm on Sunday.

Bronwyn Jones, the manager at the branch, said: "This was a heartless crime, taking from charity which works to help children.

"It's shocking how anyone can do this and it's not a very good start to the year.

"I can only think that this person or persons were very desperate, they used this huge boulder it's like something out of the Flintstones to break the window.

"Nothing like this has ever happened before and, according to the security guard, there's only been one other incident like this in two years."

Yesterday, the branch was open for business as usual although there were boards up on the door until the glass can be replaced.

Alex Watson, a price negotiator at the branch, said: "Customers have been in and out all day and asking what happened.

"When we've told them, they have been pretty shocked, especially when we show them the huge boulder the thieves used.

"These people must have been pretty desperate, I mean you cannot find a rock this size very easily around here."

Ina Price, the spokeswoman for the NSPCC in the West and Midlands, said: "It is despicable to steal from children who have already suffered in some way.

"The money which has been taken would have been used to improve children's lives.

"And we have several teams in Swindon working towards that goal.

"I only hope that their conscience will prick them into handing the money back somehow."

In August 2002, vandals attacked the site of the then unopened North Swindon Library, and its walls and windows were sprayed with graffiti.

Annthony Osborne