Staff at a Bootle pub say they’ve been blown away by how neighbours and nearby businesses reacted when cruel thieves made off with £20,000 worth of music equipment.
The Lock and Quay, a community-run pub which invests all of its profits back into projects in the area , was the target of a huge theft last week.
The equipment stolen belonged to volunteers who offer free music lessons to children in the surrounding area as well as to use in performances at the pub.
It was estimated that the amount the thieves took was worth around £20,000.
It included guitars, pedals and electrical equipment, with some of it having taken two decades to collect.
But within hours of finding out about the theft people from the area were donating money to replace the instruments.
The Lock and Quay’s Colin Breen said the community’s reaction to the break in, which has meant much of the equipment has been replaced, left them stunned.
He said: “The break in was devastating obviously, but the way that people have reacted has just blown us away.
“So many people found out about it so quickly and within a day there were people down at the pub literally putting money in glasses for us.
“We had been due to play at a festival in a few weeks and had been ready to pull out but after what’s happened it’s meant we are able to play it now.”
“We are absolutely over the moon people have done this for us - we can't say thank you enough.”
As well as money given from customers at the pub, other businesses have also donated, with Crosby music shop Harmonics giving the pub ukuleles to use in free music lessons.
The shop’s Ian Ruddock said their hearts had gone out to the Lock & Quay when they found out about the theft.
He said: “That’s why we were more than happy to lend support with these ukuleles so we can keep up the amazing work of bringing people together through music.”
Volunteers will now use the ukuleles in free lessons at Ronald McDonald House Children’s Hospice.
