THIEVES who smashed through a ceiling to break into a bakery, escaped with cakes, crisps and a charity collection box.

When staff at Peter's Cathedral Bakery, in Willington High Street arrived at work they were met with a devastating sight.

Overnight last Friday, thieves broke through the roof to raid the shop.

The inside of the shop was covered with pieces of ceiling plaster.

The raiders had snatched the float from the till, and the Childline charity collection box.

Shop manager Tracey Humphrey said: "It's bad enough they took stuff that belonged to Peter's Bakery, but a ChildLine box? There was probably about £25 in it.

"They even took chocolates that the assistant manager had bought the girls for Christmas. They left the empty container the sweets were in.

"They made a right mess. There was plaster all over the floor and the ceiling was hanging down.

"It looked like they were also going to take the milk from the fridge in the front of the shop but they could have been disturbed."

It is thought about three people were involved in the break-in.

The thieves escaped through the back door of shop.

If anyone has any information about the raid, they are asked to contact Crook CID on (01388) 762011.