AIR ambulance fundraiser Jeanette Von Berg says her faith in human kindness has been restored as people rallied to donate money after £200 of charity cash was stolen from her stall in the Corn Exchange.

Ms Von Berg, 83, was devastated when her bag, containing money she had raised for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, was taken last Thursday lunchtime as she packed up her charity stall.

But now the Roundway parish councillor has been overwhelmed by support from people from all walks of life. On Tuesday she was able to present £538 to the air ambulance after donations that ranged from just a few pence from a homeless man to hundreds from a business person.

She said: "It is incredible. I have had so many donations it has really restored my faith in people. I just want to say thank you. After it happened I felt terrible and so upset. I got my bag back but everything inside had been taken."

She said that she believed the theft had been caught on CCTV and showed someone who was known to police.

She said: "My bag wasn't on show so I think someone must have been watching me to know where it was kept. It is a horrible feeling."

Iain Wallis, who runs Moonraker Bears in Sidmouth Street, acted as a collection point for donations after recruitment business owner Annette Alchin suggested having a central place.

Mr Wallis said: "There have been donations of all sizes. One homeless man came in and gave just a few pence as that was all he had. He felt bad that someone from the homeless community was thought responsible for the theft and he wanted people to know that many of them felt bad about what had happened."

As yet no-one has been arrested or charged. People commenting on Facebook blamed a homeless man as the culprit.

Rebecca de la Bedoyere, senior fundraising manager at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “Jeanette is a long-standing and dedicated community fundraiser for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and we were devastated to hear of the theft of money she had raised for us.

“Jeanette’s stalls are well supported by the public and she has raised thousands of pounds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance over the years, which has helped to keep our helicopter flying and saving lives.

“The response from the community in Devizes to the theft has been amazing and humbling. We would like to thank everyone who donated money.

“I think the response reflects the respect that Jeanette has in the community and the appreciation that people have for the work that Wiltshire Air Ambulance does in providing an essential helicopter emergency medical service.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said yesterday: "Nobody has been arrested or charged at this stage. Enquiries are still ongoing."