A PUB manager whose collection box was taken from his bar has described the theft as "as low as can be".

CCTV footage released by the Three Cups in Stamford Bridge, appears to show a man hanging around the bar area and then cutting a wire that attaches the collection box to the bar before tucking it under his coat and walking away.

Matt Watkins, general manager of the pub, said he had never known anything like the incident, which happened on Wednesday afternoon, in the four-and-a-half years he has been there.

Mr Watkins said: "The police have said unless someone can recognise them, there's not much hope of catching him. I put it on Facebook to try and get as much exposure as possible to see if someone recognises him and would speak up. From the footage, he comes in through the village side of the pub, then goes further up the road as if he's going into York on foot."

The video appears to show a man cutting a wire attaching the collection box to the bar, then tucking it under his jacket and walking away.

The collection was in support of Prostate Cancer UK, which supports men and families living with the disease, and Mr Watkins has set up a justgiving page to try and recoup the stolen funds.

He said: "We get charities throughout the year, speaking to the pub and we want to do our best so put the collections up on the bar. They were selling metal pin badges for suggested donations of £1. It had been there for about three weeks but I don't know for sure how much was in it. 

"There were maybe about 10 badges left in the box so possibly somewhere in the region of £50 to £70, but it's the principle of the thing though, not the amount. The charity is losing out, it's bang out of order. I would really like to think they would have to get into a desperate situation to do something as low as this, it's as low as can be to steal from charity."

North Yorkshire Police confirmed they were investigating the incident, and urged anyone who recognises the man to contact them on 101, quoting reference 187 of October 1.

To donate to the fund, go to justgiving.com and search for Matthew Watkins and Three Cups.