AN Eastleigh charity boss has branded as "wicked" thieves who are targeting a shop which is raising money to help poverty stricken children.

In the latest incident, six pairs of trousers were taken from a clothes rail at the CRY charity shop in Eastleigh High Street.

Manager Gloria Ochyra said: "They took the trousers and left the jackets. We are now losing stuff on a regular basis. It is mainly clothes and bric-a-brac.

"We are trying to help children who are homeless and living in holes in the ground. And these wicked people are taking away items that we are trying to raise money with.

"It makes me despair of human nature. There are some good people out there but there are also some bad eggs and charity shops seem to be an easy target."

Designer jeans and DVDs have also been stolen, and in a bid to find more items thieves have even rummaged through bins at the back of the High Street building. Sacks of clothing and other items which had been donated by the public and left outside the shop for collection have also been stolen.

Deputy manager Julie Kenrick said: "It makes you feel pretty sick that people can sink so low to steal from a charity shop."

CRY stands for Care and Relief of the Young and the charity has brought hope to countless children living in poverty in far- flung corners of the world including Romania, Albania, China, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.

The charity also linked with friends in Sri Lanka to help in the relief effort and rebuilding of communities in the wake of the tsunami disaster.