MEMBERS of the public have been praised for donating to a Bournemouth bird attraction in-the-making after thieves made off with their savings.

As previously reported, vandals broke into Polly - a painted oak bird atop a money-slotted box - stealing £200 of donated cash saved to build the new town centre aviary.

Despite crowbarring their way in, Polly was not believed to have been damaged in the incident at Lower Gardens earlier this month.

But now it looks like the volunteers who run the centre are back on track to raising the money they need after one unnamed couple stepped in and handed over enough cash to make up the stolen shortfall.

One of the volunteers Darrell Sturmey said he was taken aback by their kindness.

He also said the incident actually proved to help boost the aviary's publicity - though they won't stop emptying it regularly to deter future thieves.

"We're still emptying it three times a day but the public interest has been phenomenal," Mr Sturmey said. "It's actually put it more on the map really and it's maintaining awareness."

In March civic chiefs decided to replace the existing structure with a new-build property to continue as a rescue centre for captive-bred caged birds.

Mr Sturmey says the current plan is to develop something in the style of a botanical Victorian orangery which, including the cost of demolishing the current building, will cost in the region of £150,000-£200,000.

They hope it will be built over the next few years.

Mr Sturmey added: "What we do now is an investment so we can all feel proud of it and the birds can call it their home."