TWO charity box thieves are to be sentenced next week after stealing cash destined for hospitals and poverty-stricken children.

Accomplices Lee Hall and Victoria Litherland took the boxes from the counters of shops in a spate of thefts stretching back to mid-October.

Hall, aged 42, of Chapelfield, Radcliffe, targeted McColl's Convenience Store in Thatch Leach Lane, Whitefield, on October 16, swiping a tin containing £30 meant for St George's Hospital in London.

On October 24, he linked up with Litherland, aged 29, of Roach Crescent, Whitefield, and stole a Children In Need box containing £200 from Asda in Spring Street, Bury.

They also stole a box from Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe in The Rock, Bury, where the cash would have otherwise gone to Bury Lions, which helps a range of local charities.

On Bonfire Night, Hall stole a box destined for Bury Cancer Support from Unsworth Post Office and he and Litherland stole DVDs from Bury town centre on November 8.

The pair appeared before Bury magistrates on Monday when Hall admitted seven counts of theft and Litherland admitted four.

They were remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced at the same court next Thursday.

In February this year, Hall and Litherland were each given curfews and ordered to pay compensation after admitting stealing a Royal British Legion poppy appeal box from Radcliffe Pharmacy in Church Street West, Radcliffe.