THIEVES have left pensioners without a Christmas treat after they stole their savings.

The 34 residents at Kingston House old people's home in Derry Hill, as well as visitors to the residential home, had been putting all their spare change into a giant whisky bottle all year and believe it contained more than £200.

They were going to use the money to pay for a Christmas treat.

But during the weekend of November 25 and 26 someone stole the bottle from the entrance hall, leaving residents angry and disappointed.

Senior carer Cathy Coombs said: "The residents were all really cross. You couldn't print some of the comments our genteel old ladies came out with.''

Mrs Coombs said staff would be very wary about leaving money unattended from now on.

She said someone must have walked into the home to take it because it couldn't be seen from outside.

"If we have another bottle we will have to chain it to the wall and have a sign explaining it is because there are thieves about."

She added: "We can't believe somebody could just come in and take it like that.

"The ladies were looking forward to counting the money together and deciding what to do with it and they were hoping to have a special trip out."