STOCK donated to a hospice charity shop in Poole after a burglary has been ruined during a second raid within a month.

Staff at the Lewis Manning Hospice shop in Poole High Street, described the latest raid, which happened last week, as "simply heartbreaking."

The charity shop was first targeted in March, when thieves removed a safe fixed to the floor containing the shop's float and badly damaged two doors in the process.

At that time the Daily Echo reported staff were "disheartened and frustrated" but, after establishing an appeal - which saw supporters donate money and an array of second hand items - staff appeared to be putting events behind them.

But on the evening of Friday April 22 thieves targeted the charity shop again. This time no money was stolen but the shop was ransacked, leaving many of the donations from members of the public damaged beyond repair.

The raid is the latest in a series which has seen charity shops across Dorset targeted.

Others to be hit include the British Heart Foundation shop in Shaftesbury and the Cats Protection and Sue Ryder shops in Shaftesbury.

Following the latest incident, Lewis Manning area retail manager Laura Tait said: "Firstly, we want to say a big thank you to all our supporters for their very generous response of donations after the first robbery. It is greatly appreciated by everyone at the hospice.

"However, we can’t believe someone has targeted the shop again."

Laura explained that shop staff and volunteers work extremely hard to raise vital funds for hospice patients.

"To see all of the stock our customers kindly donate to us ruined is simply heart breaking," she added. "We had taken precautions and as such no money was stolen this time. "However, stock and the premises were damaged which ultimately removes money that would have otherwise been spent providing care to local people who need it."

The hospice in Lilliput only receives around 20 per cent of its funding via its contract with NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, with the rest coming from fundraising and shops.

An appeal has been established by the hospice to help replenish what has been stolen.Visit justgiving.com/charity/lewismanning/ShopRobbery or text LMHS16 £5 to 70070 to donate £5.

The hospice is also asking the public for donations of items of furniture to help recoup money for the charity. If you have items of furniture, please contact Carole on 01202 760574. Collection can be arranged.

Dorset Police have asked anyone with information on the latest burglary to contact them on 101, quoting incident number 8105.