A CHARITY which helps asylum seekers and refugees in Britain faces an uncertain future after it was ransacked for the third time.

Africa Community Action, Strawberry Bank, Blackburn, was broken into on Wednesday night and had £3,300 of equipment stolen.

Thieves smashed a door and window and took five laptops, computer, printer, monitor, and a Dyson hoover.

Project manager Serge Bouna Boko said the organisation, which has 65 members, had now hit rock bottom.

He said: “It’s a disaster for us. Everything we get is from donations and people who work for us are volunteers.

“We have been left with nothing at all. We are all devastated by this. A lot of hard work goes into providing immigration advice, jobs, training and community cohesion projects, as well as supporting disadvantaged children in Africa.”

The premises, which opened in 2008, have already been broken into last December and again in January this year.

African Community Action (ACA) helps refugees access English lessons, housing, jobcentre and other information through its computers to enable them to be part of the community.

Mr Bouna Boko said: “There’s nothing left. I don’t know how we are going to keep going.”

In December 13 businesses and charities on Strawberry Bank, including the ACA, were targeted by a burglar in the space of 25 days. He used an axe to smash his way in and took five laptops and petty cash in two raids at the refugee charity.

No-one has ever been charged and, at this stage, officers are not linking the latest raid to those incidents.

CBM Steve Dundon said neighbourhood police were keen to avoid a repeat of that burglary spree and had already spoken to businesses and residents about checking their security.

PC Dundon said: “Inquiries are ongoing. If anyone has seen anything suspicious, has information or is offered these items they should call us.”

Contact 0845 1 253545.