Heartless thieves stole charity donations from two friends who raised thousands of pounds for patients with kidney problems.

Lisa Laing, 46, said it was “heartbreaking” to arrive home and find her garage in Calthorpe Gardens, Sutton, had been broken into on Friday.

Mrs Laing raised more than £2,700 for the St Helier and Surrey Kidney Patients Association with her friend Linda Lawton, who shaved her hair to help raise the funds last month.

Burglars stole cosmetics, wine and brandy worth - worth about £160 in total - which had been donated as gifts and were to be used as prizes at fundraising events.

Mrs Laing, who needs a kidney transplant, said: "It was a real shock to come home to after my night shift and see that those gifts that were donated to us had been stolen.

"So much time and effort went into the event and although we raised a lot of money and gifts were handed out, it has left a sour taste in my mouth.

"We were so lucky that people donated prizes for the fund-raising event and to think that someone would do this is heart breaking.

"Whoever stole the items knew that they were gifts or prizes as they all were wrapped with ribbons. It's just shocking.”

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, shaved Mrs Lawton’s hair at the fundraising day on January 17, which was timed to coincide with Mrs Laing’s son Harry’s 13th birthday.

Harry suggested holding the event on his birthday as he wanted as many people there to raise money for the charity.

The stolen donations, which were taken between 5pm on Thursday and 7am on Friday, were leftover prizes that were going to be raffled off at future events.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sutton police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.