A CHARITY worker has been charged with stealing from a shop which raises funds to care for terminally-ill children in Lancashire.

Linda Harrison, 44, of Progress Street, Chorley, is accused of stealing items from the town’s Derian House Children’s hospice charity shop, where she worked, police said. Harrison was arrested earlier this month after the offence was alleged to have occurred at the Chapel Street shop on July 14.

Police said it had been reported that a DVD player and an item of clothing had been stolen from the store.

Derian House Children’s Hospice offers respite and terminal care for children from across Lancashire.

The vast majority of the annual £1.7million costs of running the hospice are met though fundraising and donations and Derian House said its seven shops made a large contribution.

Paul Booth, estates and retail manager for Derian House, declined to comment on the case as legal procee-dings had begun, but confirmed that Harrison no longer worked at the shop.

Police said that Harrison had been charged with theft and had been bailed to attend Chorley Magistrates Court on August 18.