Charity shop staff devastated by break-in - CEO

The front of the shop had to be temporally boarded up after it was broken into

A charity shop has reopened after being forced to close following a "devastating" break-in, said the organisation's chief executive officer.

The Age UK Home and Furniture store in Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes, was vandalised and had money taken from its safe on Wednesday night.

The charity said staff arrived on Thursday and discovered the premises had been broken into, extensively damaged and money had been taken.

Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation, the charity confirmed.

Thieves broke in and took money from a safe, the charity said

Denise Stygal-Watson, chief executive officer at Age UK Milton Keynes, said: "This shop represents so much more than just furniture.

"It funds essential services for older people in our community, from befriending visits to dementia support.

"This break-in is a heartbreaking setback, but we're determined to bounce back."

The store opened for business in September and reopened after the burglary on Friday morning.

The charity appealed to the public for donations to help its recovery.

"Please bear with us - there is currently a temporary entrance in place, and some visible damage remains," Ms Stygal-Watson added.

She expected full repairs to the doors and flooring would be "costly and take several weeks to complete".

"We've been overwhelmed by messages of support," she added.

Volunteers at the charity shop spent their time clearing up the vandalism on Thursday and Friday morning