HEARTLESS burglars have stolen £700 that was going to a cash-strapped pre-school for disabled children.

The thieves broke into Toni Limb’s house in Glebe Road, Osmington, and helped themselves to money she had painstakingly collected for the Dorchester Opportunity Group.

Mum Toni, 27, helped organised a jumble sale, charity raffle and motorbike ride during the summer to raise money for the pre-school.

The raiders took £700 in notes and left her with loose change that came to £17.39.

Toni, whose son Matthew used to go to the group, said: “I feel angry and violated.

“It was the only thing that was taken, so someone knew. If it’s someone I know then they will have known what it was for.

“I was planning to take it to the school when it opened.

“I feel so guilty. All the time and everything I have put into it has gone so quickly.”

Toni added: “I’m just angry, really angry at whoever’s done it.

“I’m hoping it was opportunists, but then I’m thinking that somebody’s been in my house. It’s a horrible thought.”

The money was hidden in the kitchen high up so that it couldn’t have been seen from outside.

It was in a box clearly marked ‘for Dorchester Opportunity Group'.

Toni believes thieves got into the property through the back door which had been left unlocked, a one-off mistake Mrs Limb said she would never make again.

Dorchester Opportunity Group provides pre-school facilities for children with special educational and behavioural needs.

Mrs Limb’s son Matthew, aged four, has just left the pre-school.

He was born 15 weeks early and suffered a brain haemorrhage.

Mrs Limb said that he loved his time at the group and this inspired her to raise money for them.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We had a reported burglary at an address in Glebe Close, Osmington, Weymouth on Tuesday, September 7, at 1.49pm from a woman on a mobile.

“We’re now investigating a reported burglary sometime between 8.10am and 1.50pm on Tuesday where charity money was reported missing.”

He added: “It looks like entry was gained at the rear of the property, nothing else was taken and it appears no search was carried out in the property.”

The Dorchester Opportunity Group is fundraising to keep its services going.

It will be able to stay open into 2011 after drawing on new grants, but is still looking for a long term full time sponsor.

The group also needs money for a new building at the group’s premises in Maiden Castle Road after a backer pulled out.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call PC Jacqui Allen at Dorchester Police on 01305 222222.