RAIDERS have been branded despicable after raiding a town's main charity shop.

Burglars smashed a window at the premises on King Street West, Blackburn, before entering and ransacking the venue

Although most of the cash had been taken out of the office a small amount of money had been left for collection. A number of items sold to raise funds were also taken.

The shop is owned by Blackburn with Darwen Council and made available to various local charities to help with their fundraising efforts.

The East Lancashire Asthma Group were using the shop when the raiders struck -- on the group's last day.

Group secretary Ann Wainwright said: "We got to the shop on Friday morning and saw the window was smashed.

"They had taken about £6 which I know doesn't sound a lot but it's £6 that we could have put to good use.

"It's extremely difficult these days to get funding as it is because there are so many charities out there. We are a small charity with a few volunteers and something like this is a real blow. Whoever did this is despicable."

Because of the nature of the shop Mrs Wainwright said a full list of stock was not taken although was sure items had been taken.

Among other things the charity pays for swimming lessons for asthma sufferers twice a week at baths in Darwen and Blackburn. Swimming is the best exercise to relieve asthma.

The group also pays for nurses from the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust to undertake special £400 courses to give them a better understanding of asthma.

In the past 10 years 46 nurses have completed the course.

Police confirmed there had been a break-in at the shop and are investigating.

Councillor Gail Barton, Executive Member for Resources, said the council will repair the shop.

She said: "It is quite saddening. Charities rely on donations from the public and the work of volunteers to raise money and it really is hard to comprehend why someone would willing try to deprive them of vital funds."