A ST ANNES businesswoman, whose shop encourages people to browse through its arts and crafts, fears it may lose its individuality because of a spate of thefts.

Lindsay Mason, who runs Out Of Our Hands on the Crescent, says many shop owners in the area have stepped up security following an increase in the number of thefts.

But she feels the need for video cameras and tagging systems are ruining the way her shop is run.

The final straw for Lindsay was a recent break-in which saw a loss of more than £1,400 worth of pieces of art.

She explained: "We are all devastated over the burglary and it's affecting business. Suspecting people is not the atmosphere we are trying to create.

"We used to get many genuine people coming in, even if it was only to browse or to have a chat over coffee - we like to feel the shop is an inviting place and this atmosphere may be lost.

"Last year we lost about £500 worth of items through theft and the shops around us have the same sort of problem."

Everything sold at Out Of Our Hands is handmade by either Lindsay or local artists, one of whom is Doris Farquhar of Rufford Road, St Annes, who lost valuable pieces of handmade bronzes and sculpture.

She said: "It's heartbreaking. If these people realised what damage they were doing to the whole community they may think twice.

"I'm sickened and I haven't done any sculptures since."

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