A CHURCH and community centre has been targeted by thieves who smashed windows and made off with more than £350.

The money taken from Woodhouse Close Church and Community Centre, in Bishop Auckland, was the money which would have been used help families in a crisis.

Staff and volunteers would use the cash to help people facing financial hardship pay for gas and electric, food, nappies and baby milk.

The centre was broken into at around 3am on Saturday, July 13.

The Northern Echo: One of the windows smashed during the break-in at Woodhouse Close Church and Community CentreOne of the windows smashed during the break-in at Woodhouse Close Church and Community Centre

Thieves smashed two windows to gain entry causing around £450 of damage.

Anne Ramshaw, centre manager, said: “We have CCTV footage and it shows that they’re in and out in six minutes.

“They were in that much of a hurry that they left money on the floor.

“Stealing from a church is bad enough but stealing money that would feed people and buy nappies is unbelievable.

“That’s why we are so upset about it, because they are stealing from their own.”

Cash tins were found on a hedge by locals who alerted the police and a trail of receipts was also found on the floor outside.

Property steward Peter Hall said: “It wasn’t a huge amount of money thankfully, but it was the money we use on a daily basis to help people in crisis.

“Members come in having no money for food so we will give them a food parcel, or they come because they have no nappies or baby milk.

“It’s money that is used in an emergency situation by the community centre for the people in the community.”

Mrs Ramshaw added: “We won’t keep cash in the centre anymore which is putting extra work onto all of the staff.

“We are a small team of seven plus volunteers and everyone works together to try and alleviate some of the problems faced by the people who live in the area.

“The centre has given parcels to thousands of people over the years and it’s a shame that anyone would want to steal from it.

“We would like to thank everyone who was here on Saturday for five hours with police, cleaning up and putting everything back to normal, thank you to them for all of their hard work.”

Police are investigating the theft and anyone with information is asked to call 101 using crime reference number 002088881.