A GOOD Samaritan has ensured a Christmas party for pensioners can go ahead after callous thieves stole cash from a pub.

The Christmas dinner for 100 OAPs was threatened with cancellation when the £500 was taken in a theft.

But an anonymous donor sent the money to the Millhouse Pub on Ballater Drive in Cinnamon Brow, where the festive meal will take place.

Landlady Andrea Faulkner, aged 34, organises the annual event and said Christmas presents bought for her children were also taken.

She was delighted to know the party could now take place as planned.

“I still can’t believe that it has happened,” she said.

“It’s not just the burglary and the money they took, it’s what it means for the pensioners.

“I feel responsible because I was looking after the money.

“Whoever took it is just a lowlife.”

Police say the incident took place at around 9.45am on Wednesday, December 5.

Andrea had been doing administration in an upstairs office when she went down to the bar area to speak to staff. She had left the office door unlocked.

When the mum-of-two returned upstairs around ten minutes later, the office had been raided.

She says that along with £528 saved for the Christmas dinner, a further £2,400 in cash was taken from a safe.

It means the buffet, live entertainment, bingo and raffle put on for elderly neighbours is at risk of being cancelled.

Residents have raised around £100 since the burglary, but it will not be enough to fund the event.

“At first I thought we would have to cancel but now we don’t,” said Andrea.

“It shocks me that someone can do this in broad daylight and take money meant for the community.”

Andrea also says her iPhone 4s and two Android tablets purchased for son’s Tom, aged 16, and Jack, aged 10 were also stolen.

She has run the pub for more than four years and said it is the first time she has been burgled.

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting incident number 250 of December 5.