JOAN and Stan Williams have raised hundreds of pounds for the Prospect Hospice by showing off their Christmas lights.

But this year they appear to have been targeted by a group of youths who are intent on stealing the money from the couple's collecting box. This week the pensioners opened the box to find a condom filled with urine.

The situation should sicken every person who reads this newspaper.

The behaviour of the young people goes way beyond that of high jinks. It is cowardly, selfish and downright irresponsible.

There is a danger of tarring the behaviour of young people with the same brush, but you could forgive Mr and Mrs Williams for never trusting anyone under the age of 18 again.

That is a shame, because the vast majority of teenagers would without hesitation condemn the actions of the few who have been targeting the couple. Let's hope that the thugs who have been misbehaving read today's Advertiser and realise the misery they are causing a very ordinary couple who are simply trying to cheer people up and raise money for a good cause. Maybe they should also consider the patients at the Prospect Hospice who will benefit from Mr and Mrs Williams' efforts.

For they are effectively attempting to steal from the most vulnerable in society, for whom Christmas this year will be a very difficult time.