Staff at a Weldmar charity shop have been left "devastated" after arriving at work to find the store had been ransacked by burglars.

The criminals broke windows and stole money from a charity collection pot. Some bank cards and a number of foreign coins were also taken.

The shop was in a complete state of disarray after the criminals frenzied search for cash, completely turning the place upside down and leaving a trail of destruction behind them.

Manager Louise Redpath discovered the damage on Wednesday morning. She said: “It’s frightening. I can’t believe that anyone would do this, especially to a charity shop.

"It was such a horrible feeling approaching the door, seeing it had been forced open, and the mess that had been left inside. We all feel devastated.”

The Gillingham shop was the second of Weldmar’s 26 shops to open, first welcoming customers on The Parade in January 1994.

Caroline Hamblett, Weldmar Hospicecare’s CEO, was shocked at the news. She said: “We rely so much on the income from donations so kindly given by people who support the work we do in Gillingham, and throughout Dorset, for patients and their loved ones in the last year of their lives.

"It is so sad to see the damage caused by the break in and the loss of income for the charity.”

Police investigators, including forensics officers, have been at the scene, and are asking anyone with information to come forward.