PENSIONERS said a huge thank you today to a theatre group - after its kind-hearted members handed over £500 to replace cash stolen by a mean thief.The Trimley Saints Players lived up to their name, proving a real blessing to the old folk at the Yetton Ward House in Felixstowe.

PENSIONERS said a huge thank you today to a theatre group - after its kind-hearted members handed over £500 to replace cash stolen by a mean thief.

The Trimley Saints Players lived up to their name, proving a real blessing to the old folk at the Yetton Ward House in Felixstowe.

The elderly residents of the sheltered complex had been left distraught after a sneaky thief broke into the communal area and stole money they had been saving.

The intruder escaped with £500 and a cash tin - money the residents had been contributing to help pay for the tax and insurance for their minibus, and also to put on their annual fete.

After members of the Saints read of the pensioners' plight in The Evening Star, they decided to help out.

Group member Heather Rodwell said: “One of our committee members saw it in the paper and then rang round and said it would be a really nice idea to help - we all agreed.

“It seemed such an awful thing to happen and we really like to help local charities and good causes.

“The residents need the money to keep their minibus going and that is really important to them.”

Yetton Ward resident Jemima McKenna said: “We are so thrilled with what the Saints Players have given us - it's just such a wonderful gesture and so kind. We cannot thank them enough.”

She said a donation of £50 had also been received from an Ipswich plumber, and £200 from the sister of one of the residents. A safe had also been donated by an Ipswich firm.

Mrs McKenna said the money tin had been taken from a cupboard in the communal lounge and kitchen area at the complex, but no-one knew how the thief had got into the building.

“We are angry and disappointed, but also very concerned because there are vulnerable elderly people living here and it's not very nice to think that someone has come into our home,” she said.

Police are investigating the burglary and have appealed for people in the area who may know the thief or saw a person running away from the 31-flat complex in Cricket Hill Road between 9pm on Saturday June 14 and 9am Monday June 16 to come forward.

People should contact Pc Regan Bradshaw at Felixstowe police on 01473 613500.

What do you think of the thief? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk