HEARTLESS thieves have broken into a Ryedale charity shop just days before Christmas.

Burglars targeted the Malton Hospital charity shop on Friday night, smashing a door, dragging the shop’s safe from the office to the kitchen and stealing £50 from a petty cash float.

They were unable to get into the safe and it was left in the store. The money that was stolen would have been used to buy either presents for those in hospital over Christmas or it would have been put towards a large piece of medical equipment.

Jezz Kipling, chairman of the Malton Hospital League of Friends, said: “I know that break-ins do happen quite often these days, but I’m disgusted that somebody would do this to a charity shop.

“Our manager, Sue, was the first to discover the theft on Saturday morning and she was very upset. Our staff all give their time for free and everybody is shaken up.

“Malton Hospital is a very good hospital and all the money we raise is spent on equipment that will help to treat people who are ill and help them to provide a good service.

“Everything we sell has been donated by the public, so this is a waste of their kindness.

‘‘We are an independent charity rather than a national charity and things like this have more of an impact.”

Shop manager Sue Appleyard said: “I am absolutely disgusted that someone would break into our charity shop. Most people have used Malton Hospital, whether as a patient or to visit relatives. We are always working to fundraise for big expensive items and this is very disappointing.”

Rev Peter Bowes, priest in charge at St Michael’s Church in Malton, said: “It’s very upsetting and given the number of people who give to the Friends of Malton Hospital whenever there is a funeral, it is clearly a charity that means a lot to local people.

“It’s really disappointing that money has been lost that was destined for such a worthy cause.”