ARMED services veterans and the father of murdered soldier Lee Rigby have hit out at callous thieves who stole a poppy tin brimming with about £400 in cash.

The tin full of donated money was stolen from the British Legion Oldham Branch’s stall in the Spindles Shopping Complex on Monday, October 29.

Oldham branch organiser Stewart Taylor, who has been manning the stall, said the tin had been stolen at a time when it was very busy.

Also helping on the stall has been 58-year-old lorry driver Phil McClure, the father 2013 London terror attack victim Fusilier Lee, from Middleton, who has taken a week off work from his job at Eddie Stobart to help with the Poppy Appeal.

“It’s absolutely disgusting,” he said. “Stealing money from ex-servicemen is the lowest of the low. These guys have given their lives for their country.”

The missing collection tin is numbered 278272 and Phil and Stewart are appealing for anyone who knows its whereabouts to get in touch with the police or the British Legion.

Stewart said: “How low can you get. When you steal from charity, you really are at the bottom of the pit.”