An elderly woman was targeted by a ‘callous’ thief who stole cash meant for a last holiday with her terminally ill son.

Jean Murray, 86, had her handbag snatched from inside B&M Bargains on Exchange Street, Macclesfield, on March 24. Jean, who uses a walker because of mobility issues, had left her handbag on the handle while she browsed the store But when she turned her back the thief took the handbag, which contained £1,100 cash, a purse, mobile phone, glasses, a gold necklace and vital medical information about her pacemaker.

Police said at around 3pm Jean and her husband William, 88, were followed into the shop by a woman.

The couple had withdrawn £1,100 from the Macclesfield branch of NatWest minutes earlier.

The great-grandparents, who live in Poynton, had planned to use the cash for a holiday with Jean’s disabled son Geoffrey, 56, who has cancer and only has months to live

I would like to invite you to contribute to the fund which will be fully donated to Geoffrey and jean.