THE STUNNED chairman of a Poole community centre targeted in an early morning break-in says burglars escaped with £10,000 in cash and equipment.

Alderney Manor Community Centre chairman Mike Holland-Porter told the Daily Echo the break-in occurred around 3.30am on Saturday, but the alarm wasn't raised until 5am.

Mike explained said: "Initially, they must have got around the alarm system, as I was not notified until later.

"They took around £5,000 of cash and around £5,000 of equipment was taken and damage done.

"We have safes upstairs that are bolted down, but they got them out no problem.

"There has been a lot of structural damage to doors and fittings, both of the fruit machines in the bar had £500 in them which was also taken.

"They've had a laptop, a tablet as well."

But Mike says as soon as the community discovered the centre had been targeted, they quickly came forward to help.

"The first thing we did on Saturday was to clear everything up so we could open at 12.30pm," said Mike. "But we obviously didn't have any change. So I put something out on Facebook and it was amazing how many people turned, such as local traders, to help. "We even had children turning up with their savings.

"Lots of people came along to help us clear up and get ready, it was an amazing community effort."

This is not the first time crime has affected the centre, which is situated in Herbert Avenue.

Last March the centre's treasurer was left "extremely shaken and upset" after £3,000 of the charity's cash was stolen from his car as he popped into a shop on the way home.

The money on that occasion had been raised by volunteers to help local stroke victims, dementia sufferers and young children.

On the latest drama, Mike said: "The money is probably long gone by now but I'd like to see someone brought to justice over this."

Dorset Police have confirmed they've launched an investigation into the burglary, and have urged any witnesses - or anyone with information - to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 55170090776