JEWELLERY worth thousands of pounds has been stolen during a raid at a Wimborne arts and crafts centre.

Bosses at Walford Mill Crafts, which is run as a charitable trust, say they’ve been left “devastated” by the burglary, which took place on Sunday evening.

The site, which also contains a gallery and a number of onsite workshops, was open for business yesterday - although the shop, where the burglary took place, remained closed.

Raiders smashed a front window before targeting a glass cabinet containing a large amount of hand-crafted jewellery.

Centre joint chief executive Anne Hitchcock told the Daily Echo: “I’m still surrounded by broken glass. The jewellery work is extremely distinctive from a well-known maker.

“It is particularly upsetting for us because we know all these people personally, we know what goes into the work they make and how important it is for them.

“For us, it is not as though we are buying from and working with unnamed sources - we know every single maker and are great friends with them. That makes what has happened even harder.

“We are fully insured so none of our makers will lose out financially.”

Walford Mill, Stone Lane, is one of only three arts and crafts centres in the south west that gets funding from the Arts Council.

It is considered one of southern England’s flagship contemporary craft galleries.

Internationally renowned glass artist Ruth Dresman is one of the latest designers to exhibit at the centre.

Anne said: “The costs of this burglary is going to run into several thousands of pounds - it could get to £20,000 when we consider the damage caused as well.

“Being the sort of business we are, and a charity, this is not an insignificant sum for us - it is devastating.”

Police believe the burglary took place sometime between 8.45-9.30pm on Sunday, January 22.

Constable Dave Hassell, of Wimborne police, said: “I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area during the relevant time to please contact Dorset Police.

“I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who has seen or been offered items of jewellery for sale in suspicious circumstances since the time of the incident.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident occurrence number 55170010996.