Staff and customers at a Newington Green bakery are “disgusted” after its Poppy Appeal collection box was stolen on Friday.

The thief struck at Jesshops Bakers, on Newington Green Road, at around 10.30am. Owner Ken Jesshop estimated the box had around £50 in.

He is now planning to make the money back by selling 100 poppy cup cakes for £1 each on Saturday. A temporary replacement box has also been set up in the shop.

Mr Jesshop, 74, said: “Words can’t describe it. It’s disgusted all of our customers, who have been looking at the replacement box in astonishment. All the staff are seriously upset. It’s ridiculous, absolutely disgraceful.

“We don’t know the circumstances. It was tied to the counter with a piece of string and the next minute, our staff realised it had gone.

“We are only a small shop and we don’t have CCTV, so we have no idea who did this.”

He added: “The Poppy Appeal was so well publicised last year and seemed to get a new lease of life – then this happens. With the poppy cup cakes, hopefully we will more than make up what we lost.”