THIEVES have targeted a much-loved town charity event less than 48 hours after its launch.

A total of 15 bunnies have been stolen from West Bergholt in the last two days since the hunt began.

People have been spotted taking the bunnies and one woman was seen putting one into her bag.

The Tom Bowdidge youth cancer foundation runs the event with the help from volunteers at the knitting group knit one down one, who make the bunnies.

They knitting group did make extra bunnies in case some were stolen so the bunny hunt can still go on.

Gazette:

They hid 160 knitted bunnies around West Bergholt and people who wish to take part in the hunt can buy a map for £1 from any shop or hairdressers in the town to tick off where they spot them.

Nikki Bowdidge, the CEO and founder of the Tom Bowdidge youth cancer foundation said: “It has happened over the years where a few have been stolen but this year they’ve only been out for a few days, and I can’t believe they’ve been stolen already.

“I think it’s the fact that they’ve been taken and then chucked into a hedgerow somewhere or we’ve seen them shoved down the drains.

"We’ve got these youngsters who want to go around hunting them and it seems such a shame that people are stealing them.

“We might have to put them into gardens and houses and it’s not as much fun if there behind glass or in gardens, but that maybe have to be done to protect them for the next two weeks.

Gazette:

“We are really quite appalled as most of it is youngsters and the whole point of this is that were doing it for youngsters with cancer.

“It is upsetting and sad for those that have worked so hard to get them all out.

The knitted bunnies can be bought for £1 each at Heathlands primary school when the hunt ends after Monday, April 18.