EXTENSIVE damage done during the burglary of a charity shop in Moreton has closed it for the foreseeable future.

Helen and Douglas House charity shop had several hundred pounds stolen from the store on the High Street after burglars broke into a safe.

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A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said: "We were called to Moreton-in-Marsh High Street on Monday, October 9, with a report of a burglary at a shop.

"It was reported that unknown offenders had entered the shop before forcing open a safe and stealing several hundred pounds.

"An attempt had also been made to gain entry to a neighbouring shop.

"Enquiries are ongoing, and officers are asking anyone who witnessed what happened or saw suspicious activity in the area to make contact.

"Information can be provided to police by completing the following online form and quoting incident 135 of October 9: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report."

A spokesperson for Helen and Douglas House added: "We can confirm that there was an incident at our shop in Moreton in Marsh on Sunday, October 9, when the shop was closed.

"The shop will now remain closed temporarily, and the matter is now in the hands of the police.

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"The nearest alternative Helen & Douglas shops are in Burford and Chipping Norton, and we would be grateful if our customers would continue to support us there."

On Facebook, the shop revealed that the building was structurally damaged, so they cannot open for the foreseeable future. 

Images published on the social media platform showed large parts of bricks littering the shop's storage room and what looks like plastered parts of the wall hanging from the wall.

Cameras and books can be seen across the floor, along with the various large segments of bricks.

The Moreton-in-Marsh shop is home to a host of secondhand items, including clothing, accessories, homeware, books and other quirky items. 

Helen & Douglas House is a registered charity caring for terminally ill babies, children, and young people.

They rely on voluntary donations for funding.

The shop has encouraged its customers who have donations to give them to its sister branches and is grateful for its customer's ongoing support. 

It added if customers would like to support them by purchasing items, they can also do so via its eBay shop, which also sells its higher-end items.