THIEVES stole more than £1,000 raised for a cancer charity at a gala fashion show attended by stars of the ITV2 show The Only Way is Essex.

The money was stolen from a bag in the bar area, which was being used as a changing room, at the Woolston Manor Country Club in Chigwell.

The proceeds of a raffle and prize draw were due to be donated to the James Baldwin Trust.

The trust is named in memory of the Gants Hill man, who died from non-Hodgkins T-cell lymphoma in 2005 aged just 26.

It currently gives financial assistance to other sufferers.

Jo Mason, 36, organised the event on March 31.

Mrs Mason, who runs Evergreen clothes shop in Loughton High Road, said: “The money was in a turquoise bag like the goody bags we had handed out on the night.

“The bag was left in the room for ten minutes at the most.

“When I realised it had been stolen I just sat on a stool and put my head in my hands. So many people have worked so hard on this.

“We were hoping to raise a few thousand pounds for the charity but after all our overheads the amount we can donate will be a lot less than we wanted.

“To steal money from a charity is just the lowest of the low.”

Prizes for the raffle included autographed Tottenham Hotspur memorabilia and VIP concert tickets.

The charity's chairman, Kes Outhwaite, said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful. Losing this money is a big blow.

“We’ve got two other people who’ve applied to us for funding but we’ve had to put that on hold while we try to raise more money.”

The theft took place between 11pm and 11.30pm.

Anyone with information should call PC Chris Busby at Essex Police on 0300 333 444.