A biker club has brought some Christmas cheer to charity shop staff who were left devastated when thieves stole money for the care of the elderly and infirm.

Staff at Sue Ryder Care in Bingley were left in tears when they discovered a collection box containing charity raffle money was swiped from the shop.

It was destined for Sue Ryder charities, which care for people with multiple sclerosis, Huntingdon’s disease and heart disease. The charity also runs Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, near Keighley, which cares for the terminally ill.

After reading of their misfortune in the Telegraph & Argus, the Shipley-based Pyeratz motorcycle club has pledged a donation.

Club chairman Merv Lambert, 58, said: “I thought it was disgusting. What kind of low-life would steal from a charity, especially at Christmas?

“We do all sorts of fundraising throughout the year, supporting mainly the Yorkshire Air Ambulance but also local charities, and we thought we would make a donation of £100 to Sue Ryder Care.”

Mr Lambert, of Bradford Moor, showed a copy of the article to about 30 members at this week’s meeting.

He said: “They were all up for it and thought it was a good idea.”

Staff at Sue Ryder Care discovered the theft last Friday morning.

The collection box was only discovered missing by store manager Anne Andre while staff were busy preparing for the store’s Lights Of Love event.

At the time, Anne said the theft had spoiled the event, which was a celebration party for people to pay tributes to their friends and relatives at Christmas.

However, she said the response since had been “amazing” and thanked the Pyeratz and other donors for their generosity.

Anne said: “We have been inundated with people. We were in tears at the time because we had worked so hard and we have been in tears again because this has just restored my faith in people.

“I want to say thank you to everybody because I can’t believe the response we have had. It just shows that the Christmas spirit is still out there!”