BRIDE-TO-BE Maxine Cutler was devastated when she found her handbag containing money for her wedding cake had been stolen while she worked in an Age Concern charity shop.

Maxine had only just withdrawn the £125 she needed to pay off the last of her bills for the big day including her cake, and she'd placed the money in the handbag she keeps in her locker at the Portswood charity shop.

A man who claimed he was looking for the toilet is the prime suspect

After he left Maxine, who is deputy store manager, checked on her handbag and discovered the cash was missing.

She said: "I saw him there I told him to leave. It was then I thought about my bag and when I looked all the lockers were opened. It was awful really, he looked like a nice young man as well."

To make up for the money she lost, kind-hearted shoppers and staff at the Portswood Road shop, that has since had all locks replaced, have clubbed together to raise enough money to pay for the cake.

"I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who chipped in. It was ever so kind of them," added Maxine.

Maxine weds her fiancee Graham Smith today. In only two weeks they organised everything including the ceremony at Southampton Register Office followed by a reception.

Anyone with information should contact PC Ettridge at Portswood Police Station on 0845 045 4545.