A DEVASTATED schoolgirl is appealing for information after a three figure sum going towards a charity expedition was stolen.

Kirsty Steel from Bridge of Weir was left distraught after £500 she had raised was taken at an event she was fundraising at.

The 16-year-old Bryce High School student was raising cash at the West Renfrewshire Young Farmers Club’s Annual Variety Concert.

The event, which kicked off on Thursday, February 11 until Saturday, February 13 took place at the Cargill Hall in Bridge of Weir.

Kirsty’s charity bucket contained funds going towards a £5,000 ‘world challenge expedition’ to Mongolia to help deprived communities.

The Cargill building was broken into on the Friday night, following two nights of singing, dancing and comedy sketches.

The bucket was discovered as missing the following day ahead of the sold-out Saturday night event.

It is believed the thief smashed through the window at the venue’s changing rooms in order to enter.

Nothing else was taken on the night, despite there being an expensive music sound system in the building.

A club leader from the West Renfrewshire Young Farmers Club reported the incident to police on Saturday.

Kirsty said: “I was really upset and crying when we first discovered the money was gone.

“It was very stressful and horrible that someone could do that when we were trying to raise money for a good cause.

“On the final night, it was much colder as the window had broken and someone got cut on the glass that had fallen on the floor.

“I won’t get the money back after all the work I put into collecting it.

“Trying to raise £5,000 isn’t easy when you are 16 and I’ll have to start getting the money back all over again.

“The best I can do is try to deal with it and make people aware of what happened at the weekend.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland added: “We have received a report of a theft and enquires are continuing."

“Anyone with information that may assist police enquiries should contact the Police Office on 101.”