CALLOUS thieves have stolen bottles of fizz destined for a charity masquerade ball being organised by a group of women to raise funds for the Marie Curie hospice in Bradford.

One of the six fundraisers, Eileen Slater, had stored the 36 bottles of Cava in her locked garage at the weekend, and was dismayed to discover them gone on Sunday morning.

They had been contained in bottle carriers clearly marked with the charity's name.

The group, who have all had their lives touched by cancer, are now more determined than ever to make the ball a success. The event is being held at Bradford's Ukrainian Club in Legrams Lane, on Saturday, March 28.

Mrs Slater, 60, of Pentland Avenue, Clayton, whose husband Gerry died 18 months ago, aged 61, after bowel cancer spread to other parts of his body, said: "People have been so very kind donating bottles to replace the stolen ones. We have a fair way to go yet, but we remain positive.

"It has only made us more determined and positive to go forward and make this ball a success. It means so much to be able to give back to the hospice what we took out when we needed them, so Cinderella will go to the ball, regardless of the mindless people who decided that their need was greater."

Mrs Slater, a community sister, added that the group had been fundraising through raffles, selling cupcakes, a clothes swap and other initiatives, in order to put on the masquerade ball. They had only bought the Cava, valued at about £300 last week, and locked it in the garage on Friday, before it was stolen a few days later.

After posting details of the theft on her Facebook page, Mrs Slater, who has two daughters, had a bottle of champagne kindly left on her doorstep and a £10 note pushed through the letterbox.

She added: "Gerry died as he lived - he was the most kind, gentle and loving person anyone could wish for. When the time came he decided he wanted to go into the hospice where the staff gave him dignity and care and the time to say goodbye to his family, when and how he chose.

"Nothing was too much trouble and every request met, no matter how difficult it seemed. So, when deciding to support a charity, there was only one cause that remained close to my late husband's heart - the Marie Curie hospice in Bradford."

Liz Howlett, Marie Curie fundraising manager for Yorkshire, praised the group, saying: “The steely determination of these volunteers to carry on regardless of these circumstances is just fantastic. We’re so appreciative of the amazing work our fundraising groups do up and down the country in raising much needed vital funds for Marie Curie.”

A police spokesman confirmed that a theft of about £300 of Cava had been reported and that inquiries were ongoing.

Almost 200 of the £15 tickets for the ball have been sold, with the fundraising group hoping to reach a total of £3,000 through the event.

To help boost the group's fundraising efforts, donations can be made online at justgiving.com/Eileen-Slater1.