A NATIONAL charity has launched an appeal for donations after one of its Southampton shops was ransacked by burglars.

The Sue Ryder shop in Bitterne Road is asking for help after the shop was targeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

As reported intruders made off with a handful of items and just £10 in cash but store managers say the villains caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage as they wrecked displays..

Following a temporary closure and police enquiries, the shop has now reopened and the team of staff and volunteers are appealing to the public for donations to replenish their shelves.

Kevin Vause, assistant shop manager, said: “It’s really saddening that our shop, which has been supporting Sue Ryder for the last five years, has been broken into.

“It’s one thing to break into a shop, and another to target one that helps fund care for people facing a terminal illness, a complex neurological condition or the loss of a loved one.

“The thieves may only have taken £10 from the donation tin, but even this modest amount could pay for two memory boxes for bereaved children.

“When you take into the consideration the cost of the repairs to the door and replacing the till, the value of the damaged stock and the trading time we missed out on due to our temporary closure, we’re looking at a loss of more like £500. This could cover the cost of a bed for a day of inpatient care at a Sue Ryder hospice.

“Incidents like this one can be really disheartening for our volunteers, too, who choose to give up their time to help Sue Ryder. But many of these volunteers rallied round yesterday to help tidy up and ‘get the show back on the road’, and for that the charity is truly grateful.”

The shop is asking for good quality clothing, books and homeware which can be dropped off at the shop .

Free collection can be arranged for items of furniture using the form on the shop’s website.

The shop is one of over 450 across the UK that supports Sue Ryder’s palliative, neurological and bereavement care.