A FAMILIAR face on the beat in Ledbury has helped to make a good news story out of what he calls "a despicable crime".

When the Acorns Children's Hospice Shop in Ledbury was burgled overnight on May 17, and £183 was taken from the safe, the Police Community Support Officer David Alexander took it upon himself to set up a crowd funding page on Just Giving to try and raise £200 to replace the stolen cash and cover the cost of the damage caused by the intruders.

PCSO Alexander, a father of two, regularly donates to this much loved charity shop and often carries out foot patrols in the area.

He said: "The shop is partly run by local volunteers and is very well supported by the kind residents of Ledbury.

"I would like to thank everyone for making a good news story out of this despicable crime."

Established in 1988, Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust is a registered charity offering a network of care for life limited and life threatened babies, children and young people and their families, across the heart of England.

The children and young people that Acorns help are not expected to reach adulthood and require specialist care.

Following the burglary in Ledbury Alexander put out tweets on @LedburyCops with a link to the Just Giving page and Bamboo florists in New Street put a message out on Facebook.

One Ledbury resident saw the messages on social media and made a £500 charitable donation.

And a total of 11 other people donated £200 to PSCO Alexander's appeal, making a grand total of £700, so far.

Further donations can be made at -

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/david-alexander

The money raised already means a new safe could be purchased and damage caused to the shop has been repaired.

Police are still investigating the break-in.

If anybody has any information on the burglary please ring 101 and quote incident 0149S 180517