A CAFÉ owner has been overwhelmed by the generosity of others after charity money was stolen from his premises.

Bill Sewell's Café @ All Saints in High Town, Hereford, began selling charity cookbook Displaced Dishes, which features an array of authentic recipes from refugees of eleven different countries, a month ago.

100 per cent of profits from the sale of the book were destined for the Samos Volunteers charity, to be used in helping the lives of refugees temporarily living on the island of Samos, Greece.

But the café's fundraising efforts were dealt a terrible blow when thieves stole both the box containing the £144 raised and the staff tips jar.

Bill and the All Saints staff wanted to be sure to give at least the stolen £144 to the Samos Volunteers and set up a Just Giving page to raise £150, with the promise to add 50 per cent to whatever sum is raised by the end of April.

And the charity appeal has certainly struck a chord, with funds raised surpassing the initial target within hours.

“We were amazed that within a few hours of the page being set up we had raised over £400 and it is still rising," said Bill.

"It has been fantastic to see such support and we are keeping the page open until the end of April if anyone else would like to donate.

"We are lucky to live in a safe country and this is a small opportunity to lend a hand to people whose experience has for the most part been very unsafe.

"It is a fantastic cookbook and a charity close to our heart in the cafe”.

You can find out more about the charity or make a donation to Bill Sewell's Just Giving fundraising campaign here.