THIEVES stole cash from a metal box used to collect donations from visitors to Cherhill's White Horse.
The money is used for the upkeep of the famous landmark, a historic monument.
The thieves smashed a padlock on the metal collection box at the entrance to the path on the side of the A4 at Cherhill, which leads up to the horse.
The chairman of the Cherhill White Horse Restoration Committee, Rob Pickford, said the box had not been emptied and he could not be sure how much money was taken.
He condemned the thieves. "They have no regard for other people donating money to the cause," he said.
"They just want it for themselves."
Mr Pickford said the money would have been put towards setting up information boards about the White Horse and another collection box.
It would also have been put towards the annual maintenance costs of the monument.
He said the collection box would be repaired and a metal shield placed over the padlock as extra security to prevent further thefts.
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