East Carlton Park Rotary charity wishing well hit by callous thieves

A charity wishing well, managed by Corby Phoenix Rotary, in East Carlton Park has been vandalised and emptied by thieves.

The stone and brick construction, covered by a metal plate with slots, was smashed apart and the contents stolen - the theft was discovered on Sunday morning (April 25).

Money thrown into the well is used by Corby Phoenix Rotary to fund local projects with last year the contents totalling nearly £600.

Peter Brotherton club president said: "It's a bit sad that people would do that sort of thing. All the money raised goes to local charity projects.

"It's been in the park for many years and we will rebuild it. The money is emptied once a month and it's raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years.

"They must have had sledgehammers.

"Corby Phoenix was formed to rise like a Phoenix after the steel works closed. The Wishing Well will rise again like the Phoenix."

In 2020, donations from the well to Corby Phoenix Rotary totalled £598 in 12 months.

Money from the well also went towards days out for Corby school children at Wicksteed Park paid for by the coins collected from the wishing well.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "At 9.11am on Sunday, April 25, we received a report that a charity wishing well at East Carlton Country Park had been damaged and money stolen from within it.

"Investigations are ongoing, anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101, regarding incident number 21000225847."

The club are setting up an online doantions page available via their Facebook page.