Fundraising siblings of a much-loved bus driver who died from cancer are appealing to the thief of a charity box used to raise money for cancer charities in their brother's memory to return the money.

Trevor Longley, who runs Mitcham Service Station in Streatham Road, said he was "absolutely gutted" when he realised the charity box had been stolen from the station counter.

He said: "I feel so sick and hurt that someone could stoop so low. I hope they get their comeuppance one day, God help them."

The yellow box, which contained about £100, went missing between 10.30am and 12pm on Thursday, March 26.

It was decorated with a sticker saying: "In memory of Trevor's brother Bob who died from cancer. Thank you for your support."

Robert Longley, known as Bob, served as a bus driver in Merton for about 20 years. His last route was the 280, which runs from Tooting to Sutton via Mitcham.

He had cancer diagnosed in March 2011, when doctors found a tumour in his back. Sadly, it had already spread to his lungs and there was little doctors could do to help him.

He died on September 24 of the same year, aged just 55. On the day of his funeral, Merton bus garage transported staff to the cemetery in a double-decker bus.

The garage now holds annual football matches in his memory at Tooting and Mitcham Football Club. Family and friends also host an annual golf day and fishing competition in his memory, all of which have raised £10,000.

Mr Longley said: "We were very close. He was so well-liked, he was very bubbly and a good golf player."

The day after he died his sister, Elaine Higgs, manager of Barclays Bank in Wimbledon, raised more than £2,000 for Cancer Research by completing the Shine Night Walk in London and Trevor Longley raised thousands of pounds by walking the Royal Marsden March.

Mr Longley said he did not report the incident to the police because the service station does not have CCTV and he did not think there were any witnesses.

But he said friends and family are putting up posters appealing for anyone to contact them if they see the box.

He said: "The whole family is gutted. I hope the thief feels guilty and returns the money."

Have you seen the box? Contact the newsdesk on 020 8722 6335, or email louisa.clarence@london.newsquest.co.uk.