Thieves stole a charity box from under the noses of volunteers working at Trowbridge Tourist Information Centre.

An elderly volunteer tried to chase two youths through the town park after a donations box was taken from a counter.

The thieves posed as tourists and duped a volunteer into helping them with leaflets before fleeing out the door with the money at about 2.30pm on Monday, July 29.

The tourist centre, next to St Stephen's Place multi-storey car-park, is a prime target for thieves and vandals.

Margarine has been smeared on shutters and TVs thrown from the car-park onto the roof in previous incidents.

Susan Pope, manager of the TIC, said everyone was left angry at the theft.

She said: "It wasn't a lot of money but it was still upsetting. The money was used to purchase tea and coffee for volunteers.

"Police were here for two hours taking statements.

"All I heard was a screech and one elderly volunteer said the box had gone. It takes you back a bit.

"People say we should open 24 hours a day but we would need an armed guard at night."