Money for Corin Potts operation stolen
Thieves have stolen money intended for an operation to help a three-year-old boy with cerebral palsy to walk.
Two men smashed their way into the Shireway Community Centre in Yate, taking money which had been raised for the Corin's First Steps campaign.
The fund-raising drive aims to raise £35,000 for Corin Potts to have a life-changing operation.
James Potts, Corin's father, said he was "gutted that one or two people have let everyone down like this".
The burglary happened at about 02:15 BST on Monday.
The thieves took cash from a safe, including about £1,400 that had been raised for the charity after a fund-raising event at the hall.
Corin, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months, can only walk with the aid of a frame he was given just before his third birthday.
His family wants to raise enough money for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery and intensive physiotherapy afterwards.
The operation reduces muscle tightness by cutting abnormal nerve roots that come from the muscles and enter the spinal cord.
Mr Potts said: "The support of people throughout Yate and Chipping Sodbury for our appeal has been amazing.
"We had a brilliant event on Saturday at the Shireway and I'm gutted that one or two people have let everyone down like this.
"It's been a bit of a setback, but we're looking into whether we're covered by the centre's insurance."
Avon and Somerset Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact the force.