The charity shop of a volunteer-led lifeboat organisation has been subject to a destructive break-in.

Hemsby Lifeboat relies solely on fundraising to operate, and the charity shop is a big part of this, but is now faced with an expensive clean-up operation, after its shop was broken into on Tuesday evening.

Shortly before 7pm, a suspect smashed the window of the shop in the village and broke into the till - though fortunately the drawer was not in it.

It is thought the damage caused to both the window and items held inside will cost the crew more than £200 to repair.

Dan Hurd, coxswain of Hemsby Lifeboat, said: 'It is very frustrating that this has happened. It really speaks volumes that somebody would break into a charity shop of all places.

'We are all volunteers and are not funded in any way, so repairing this damage will have to come from money we could've otherwise spent on the station.'

Mr Hurd, along with volunteers from his crew and the community, spent hours clearing up the damage, making the shop safe and boarding up the window - task that saw them not leave the shop until after 11pm.

He added: 'I was with my daughter at the time, so had to find somebody to look after her at short notice and would have preferred to have spent the time with her.'

The financial implications are a particular blow to the crew, who are currently looking to raise £200,000 for major renovations to the station.

Sue Weaver, of Newport Road, one of the crew's main fundraisers, said: 'I'm absolutely gutted for the whole team. They work so hard fundraising to provide the service they do so this must be soul destroying for them.

'To put so much effort into something, only for an idiot to do this is extremely frustrating.'

Mr Hurd, who along with his crew recently launched a water safety campaign, also thanked the members of the community that helped with the clean-up, which allowed the shop to open as normal the next day.

It is thought the suspect also attempted to break into other properties in the area around the time.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the break-in and have appealed for any witnesses to contact PC Gary May at Caister Police Station on 101