Thieves have snatched a Poppy Appeal tin containing up to £80 in donations from a local church in Sutton Courtenay.

Members of the Church of All Saints were due to pass on the contents of the tin on to the Royal British Legion on Sunday, but it vanished some days ago.

It was later found abandoned near Drayton with the contents gone.

Priest-in-charge Helen Kendrink said: "We always have a poppy tin in the church every year.

"We don't know exactly how much was in there but the co-ordinator for collections says we normally get £60 to £80 each year and there would have been about that much in it.

"It's all on trust. The church is open during daylight hours.

"If someone was really desperate and needed the money I can understand, but it's a shame because it's depriving the poppy fund."

Police also tweeted about the incident on Monday afternoon.