Bicycles worth more than £600 were stolen from Shooting Star Chase's storage unit just weeks before Christmas.

The storage unit in Weybridge, which temporarily houses donated goods, has the charity's name on the door and is believed to have been targeted between November 25 and 26.

A Boardman men's road bicycle worth £500 and a child's Raleigh bicycle and helmet worth £130 were last seen in the storage unit on the afternoon on November 25 and were found to be missing the following afternoon.

The bicycles were due to be auctioned and had the potential to raise more than their value for the children's hospice.

The burglary was reported to Surrey Police and the back door lock of the storage unit was found to have been tampered with.

David Burland, chief executive officer of Shooting Star Chase, said: "I am truly appalled by the burglary of the bikes from Shooting Star Chase’s storage unit. It’s hard to believe anyone could steal from a charity, let alone from a local children’s hospice, which relies on kind donations to keep the service running.

"Babies, children and young people with life limiting conditions and their families across London and Surrey desperately need our care and support, particularly at this time of year, so it’s a huge blow to lose these items which would help us raise precious funds."

It costs the hospice £9.5m a year to maintain the current level of care for more than 650 children with life-limiting conditions and the value of the missing bicycles could pay for four crisis visits from a hospice at home nurse during a medical emergency.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: "I would appeal to anyone who has either been offered these bikes for sale, especially during the lead up to Christmas, or who knows their whereabouts to contact officers .

"Similarly, I urge anyone with any information to do the right thing and contact police - any details could prove vital in bringing those responsible to justice and help return these items to their rightful owner."

Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference 45140099947, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.