POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a break-in at the Hart Wildlife shop which has could leave the charity £1,000 out of pocket.

According to joint shop manager, Ian Gowers, the thieves struck sometime after noon on Sunday and 8am on Monday. They cut through two padlocks with an angle grinder to release the security bars, and smashed the glass at bottom of the door with a paving stone to access the single storey building, which is in Alton's Bank car park.

They took £70 from the till, and £400 of stock, mainly jewellery, along with the shop's mobile phone.

According to Mr Gowers, the charity is looking to find more than £700 to repair the damage to the door, plus having to replace the shop phone and the till, and has had to suffer the loss of a trading day.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.