A charity chief has condemned thieves who broke into a north Norfolk fund-raising store and stole a safe containing cash intended for vulnerable people.

Staff and volunteers at the Benjamin Foundation's Restore second-hand furniture unit in Holt arrived for work this morning and discovered the break-in and theft.

The safe, which had been screwed into place, had been ripped out and stolen, the office ransacked, a laptop, sat nav, camera and mobile phone stolen, and a flat-screen TV, which had been for sale, had been abandoned outside, according to Claire Reynolds, director of corporate services with the Benjamin Foundation.

'We are incredibly disappointed for the staff and volunteers who work so hard for the north Norfolk community. This has unfortunately cost us time and money which is used to help vulnerable people,' said Mrs Reynolds.

Staff and volunteers worked hard and re-opened the store this afternoon. Police were examining CCTV footage from neighbouring buildings on the Hempstead Road industrial estate, she added.

The store sells donated items at affordable prices and furniture is also given free, or at a discount, to those in need.

Proceeds are ploughed into the charity's projects, including a Supported Lodgings scheme where families receive financial and moral support to give vulnerable young people a home.

A police spokesman urged anyone with information on the break-in to ring 101.