Cold-hearted thieves have stolen toiletries meant for the homeless.

They snatched a black and red Tool Station wheeled tool box containing bathroom goods and personal possessions from the pavement of Charles Street, Blue Town, as volunteer homeless champion Malcolm Staines was unloading his van.

He said: “It’s left me disheartened and annoyed. It is a quite distinctive box so it should be easily recognisable. But I am more concerned about its contents.”

Mr Staines, 63, himself formerly homeless, collects for the Island’s deprived from a temporary pitch on the pavement by Sheerness clock tower and hands out essentials such as underwear and hot food vouchers to rough sleepers without a roof over their heads.

In a furious Facebook plea, he wrote: “Would the person who walked off with my black and red box on Thursday please return it, or at least the contents. They were donated by the good people of Sheppey for the homeless.

“I hope the person who did this will sleep well in their nice, warm bed knowing they robbed people who have nothing.”

The post was uploaded by his friend Isabel Hassan, from James Street, Sheerness.

She said: “Malcolm was devastated. He left the box on the pavement for a couple of seconds but when he went back, it had gone.”

The mum-of-two, whose family was nominated for a Care For Christmas charity hamper by Malcolm, has had more than 60 replies to her social media message, many pledging fresh donations of men’s and women’s deodorants and tooth brushes.

Mr Staines said: “People have been very good but there were personal bits taken as well including a mug with a photo of me dressed as Santa.”

During the Christmas holidays, Mr Staines dressed as Father Christmas and handed out carrots to children to give to Rudolf the reindeer.

If you recognise his tool box, call him on 07587 904524.