Portsmouth landlord's anger as Poppy Appeal tin taken from pub

Andy Lilly of the Park Tavern, who says he is disgusted that a Poppy Appeal charity box has been stolen from his pub Picture: UKNIP

Andy Lilly, of the Park Tavern in Edinburgh Street, Portsmouth has branded the thief’s act as ‘shocking’ after the box, which contained more than £100, was stolen.

He says that he and generous regulars have replaced the cash but they could not believe that someone could do such a thing.

Mr Lilly said: ‘This is a kick in the teeth for our veterans who have fought and died for our country down the years.

A woman who was in the pub at the time that the theft is believed to have taken place

‘The Poppy Appeal helps them later in life and we are all both shocked and angry.

‘We support the veterans of this country a great deal and everyone at the pub has come together to replace the money, but that isn’t the point.

‘It means that I can no longer have one member of staff working on their own any more as they cannot watch both ends of the bar all of the time.

‘It means that both the charity and I have been affected by it.’

Mr Lilly is looking through CCTV from the time of the incident and has so far found an image of a woman who was in the pub at the time that the box disappeared.

Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed it is looking into the incident.

Anyone with any information should ring 101 quoting 44160407213.