KINDHEARTED company bosses have donated a lawn-mower to a hospice after thieves stole £1,000 of its gardening equipment.

Peter Lord, who works for Vernacare based in Folds Road, Bolton, read about the break in at St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton in The Bolton News.

The burglar was captured stealing two lawn-mowers and other gardening equipment from a shed at the Little Hulton hospice.

It happened just before the annual summer fair, but fortunately did not put a dampener on the event as staff discovered equipment was missing the following day.

Staff were appalled that someone could steal from the hospice, which costs £16,000 a day to run.

Mr Lord and Debra Searson, who are members Vernacare’s charity and social club committee, wanted to do something to help.

Mr Lord said: “I knew that we had a spare mower that we could donate as we no longer use it.

“We try to support charities through fundraising. We wanted to do something to help and hope they will benefit from this.”

Margaret Beck, fundraising manager for the hospice, added: “We want to thank Vernacare for their kind donation.

“We are here for the community and we were shocked that someone could break into the hospice.”

It follows a theft last year, when a large industrial barbecue was stolen just minutes after it was delivered for the summer fundraising fair.

Two crooks drove into the grounds and lifted the 12ft-long barbecue, worth more than £1,000, into a white Transit van and drove off.

Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information should contact them on 101.