Thrives have been branded 'inhuman' breaking into a hand sanitiser manufacturer's business which was set up to help out in the pandemic.

CCTV footage shows that Stay Safe Hand Sanitiser's base was targeted by a group of young men on Monday evening at 6.30pm.

Video captures one man trying the door of the property before leaving with three men, with one of them riding a scooter and a dog walking with them.

Later that evening, at around 9pm, there was a break-in but nothing was taken after the alarm was set off.

But teo days later on Wednesday, at around 8.20am, burglars struck at the firm causing  a "substantial loss" to the firm.

Sales director Adam Kilpatrick told our sister title The Bolton News: "On Monday night nothing went missing.

"There was a group that went up to the door at around 6.30pm but then there was a break-in later at around 9pm.

"The alarm went off but maybe they seen something when they had a look around and came back on Wednesday morning.

"They have gone through the window at the front when they broke in."

The firm, which is in Bolton, Greater Manchester, was set up last last year by owner Dean Holmes and Adam and it has created 20 jobs and sold more than one million bottles during the pandemic.

It has supplied products to the NHS including the North West Ambulance Service and Bolton Council throughout the health crisis.

The Northern Echo:

Stay Safe Hand Sanitiser owner Dean Holmes and sales director Adam Kilpatrick

And the company delivers to nationwide retail stores, care homes, other councils, cash and carry outlets and now pubs, gyms and restaurants across the UK.

The burglary has left the business with a "kick in the teeth", Adam says.

He has branded the break-in, which has happened during a period when businesses have been struggling due to the pandemic, "inhumane"

Adam said: "Every business is struggling to make ends meet and the little bit we do someone goes and takes it away from us.

"It’s a kick in the teeth.

"We have managed to stay open to manufacture hand sanitiser and we feel like we have been doing good things.

"We have been supplying lots of products across the UK.

"Taking from businesses at a time like this is inhumane.

"We also have staff to pay."

If you have any information about the burglary contact police on 101.

Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.