A FAMILY has hit out at callous thieves who stole hundreds of pounds from a collection box for the tsunami disaster appeal.

The Mia family run the Tikka restaurant in Bury Old Road, Whitefield, and the homemade box was situated on the counter inside the restaurant.

Fifteen-year-old Samuel Mia decided to make the collection box after learning of the tsunami in South East Asia on Boxing Day.

Over the festive period regulars had contributed generously to the appeal and the Mias were preparing to deposit the contents at a bank for the official disaster appeal.

However, last week the family discovered the box was missing from the counter.

Mr Badsha Mia (52) said: "We have no famliy involved in the disaster but felt we wanted to do something to help. I have already made a personal contribution but Samuel suggested making a collection box for the restaurant.

"He spent a lot of time on it and wrote out a label saying exactly what it was for. We were gutted to discover it had gone missing."

Mr Mia said the box was taken on Wednesday last week when the counter was left unattended for just a few minutes.

He said: "We have seven or eight staff here and they are always running around, taking orders and serving food. we didn't think for one minute that anyone would take a charity box."

The Mia family believe the box contained a "couple of hundred pounds" and wanted to apologise to customers who had contributed for its loss.

Mr Mia added: "We were really busy over the festive period and people were putting notes in as well as coins. We never thought to empty it and planned to count it all up in one go then take it to the bank.

"This is just some pathetic person who has done this for a laugh but the tsunami could have so easily affected one of their relatives. The customers were so generous and we want to apologise for this sickening act."

Mr Mia has reported the incident to the police.