Hairdresser Colin Thorne has put bars on his salon window following a burglary in which a charity bottle for the Cottage Hospital was stolen.

Mr Thorne, who said he would rather have had the cash taken from his till than from the bottle, said he was "disgusted" by the theft.

But he vowed to keep collecting for the hospital, something he has done for the past five years, raising almost £1,000 in the process.

Thieves broke into Thorne's hairdressing salon in The Homend, Ledbury, by smashing a glass door and causing £70 damage.

They stole a large whisky bottle containing around £30 worth of loose change, which customers had donated for the charity.

Mr Thorne said: "I was just about to empty it. I'm disgusted really that someone could stoop so low. I would rather have them steal from the till than take the bottle."

Mr Thorne said he has been in the habit of emptying the bottle regularly, to reduce the temptation to thieves.

Sister Sue Roig, of Ledbury Cottage Hospital, said of the theft: "It's dreadful. That anyone could steal any charity collection is despicable."

She said that she welcomed Mr Thorne's support for the hospital

"We very much appreciate any support and all the people who support the hospital," she said.

Mr Thorne said it was the first time the bottle had "left the premises" but the second time it had been raided by intruders.

Following the latest break-in, he has installed extra security measures. He said: "The bottle will go out again, with the windows barred."

The break-in took place between 6pm on June 5 and 5.20am the following day. The empty bottle was later found by police on Ledbury recreation ground.