HEARTLESS burglars broke into a Tetbury charity shop and prised a safe containing almost £600 off the wall, before making their escape.

The break-in happened overnight on Monday at the Longfield shop in Long Street.

They gained entry by breaking a window at the front of the shop, then broke through a locked internal door to the back of the shop.

The safe was prised off the wall and taken. It contained £598. Police believe they found some items from the safe on Tuesday on Rodborough Common.

Longfield supports more than 900 people a year with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

All their services are provided free of charge and the charity’s shops, which specialise in high quality merchandise, generate vital income to pay for those services.

The charity’s head of retail, Ian Cherry, said: “We are extremely upset about the break-in and theft. It has been distressing for the people who work and volunteer in the shop.

“We rely on the goodwill of Gloucestershire people to help us raise funds to care for patients with life-limiting conditions.

“No extensive damage was done to the shop but the money taken would have helped pay for almost 24 hours of Hospice at Home care - that is money which is now lost to the charity and the people we support.

“This selfish crime is so at odds to the generosity of the vast majority of Tetbury residents who support our charity so reliably - I'm sure they will be upset and disappointed too.”

The shop reopened on Tuesday afternoon.