A BUSINESS owner who had a charity box swiped from his shop has thanked the “generous” people of Andover for raising more than 10 times the amount that was originally stolen.

Ben Walton, owner of Ben’s Quality Dry Cleaners on Union Street, was left devastated after a teenager thief burst into his shop earlier this month and made off with more than £100 of donations to children’s cerebral palsy charity, Whizz Kidz.

Mr Walton, whose son Zak suffers from the condition, turned to the Andover Advertiser to appeal for help in finding the culprit, with the story making our front page last Friday.

Within hours of the story hitting the shelves hundreds of pounds of donations began pouring in. By Monday, the family had received a total of £1,000 from customers, businesses and our army of generous readers.

Mr Walton, who has raised more than £25,000 for Whizz Kidz in the last few years, said: “The response to the story has been phenomenal and it just goes to prove that there are some really really great people in the town.

“Our town comes in for quite a lot of criticism and knocking from all corners but I for one am proud to be part of it and that is down to the amazingly kind, generous and warm hearted people that make up our town.

“When the pot was stolen I was upset and angry in equal measures but the wonderful people of Andover have restored my faith in humanity.

“The donations have been astounding and I can’t say thank you enough to each and everyone who took time out of their busy lives to pop in and donate to this fantastic charity.”

Jojo Blythen, regional fundraising manager for the south central area at Whizz-Kidz, was also delighted with the news.

She said: "I am bowled over by the support and generous donations the readers of the Andover Advertiser have shown for Whizz-Kidz and Ben following the theft of the collection can. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who chose to donate.”