A charity which organises activities for youngsters is threatened with closure after thieves stole almost £2,000 of its takings.

For three decades, the Newhaven Play Project (Nippers) has provided subsidised after-school and holiday care for youngsters.

Now, in the middle of its 30th birthday celebrations, the charity may have to close its doors for good.

Staff found the money had been taken from its office at Shakespeare Hall, Fort Road, Newhaven.

The funds were to pay for a birthday party and trips for hundreds of children. The celebrations may now have to be cancelled.

Administrator Sarah Fitzgerald said: "We're absolutely gutted. We can't believe someone would do it. We rely on people's goodwill to keep the scheme going.

"We help a lot of local families in trouble and offer free places.

"It feels like we've had it all thrown back in our faces."

The staff are trying to put a brave face on the matter and keep celebrations going but are being forced to rethink future plans.

Miss Fitzgerald said: "We're in the middle of two weeks of celebrations.

"We took about 100 children to the Natural History Museum in London this week. We've had a magician in and mud slides.

"Next week, we were going to go to Thorpe Park, take the kids bowling and have a party with fireworks on Friday but we may have to cancel.

"We don't want to let the children down but there may be no other option.

"We rely on fund-raising and volunteer work. It's such a blow. We may even have to close altogether.

"We kept the money in a tin in the office filing cabinet.

"There was £1,885, our week's takings. When I went to do the banking, it wasn't there."

Chairwoman Pam Perry said: "If we can't get the funds back. We struggle to break even each year.

"Not only have we offered parents a safe and stimulating place for their children to play, we have helped in schemes to reduce petty crime in the town centre. Now we are the victims."

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police confirmed the theft was being investigated.