A THIEF stole a safe containing over £2,000 in cash from a day centre by hiding it in a child's pushchair.

Police are appealing for information after the Hollies Day Centre in Musselburgh was broken into on Sunday morning.

They said the thief put the safe in the black pushchair, which was later recovered a few streets away on Eskside West, as they made their getaway.

The incident took place at the Hollies, on the High Street around 7.30am.

The safe included funds which had been raised for a Christmas lunch for the elderly.

The Walk With Scott Foundation, set up by veteran East Lothian fundraiser Scott Glynn, stepped in to give The Hollies £2,000 to ensure the festive meal did not have to be cancelled.

Detective Sergeant James Welsh of East and Midlothian CID said: "This money included funds kindly donated by the local community, and we believe the centre was deliberately targeted because of this.

"It's likely that the pushchair was used to carry the safe from the premises and we're urging anyone who may have seen suspicious behaviour in the area of the High Street, Eskside East, Eskside West, or the adjoining bridges on Sunday morning, to get in touch with us immediately."

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0707 of 3rd December, or report this anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.