A charity which cares for sick and abandoned animals has hit out at burglars who raided one of the shops which fund its work.

Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary's charity shop in Leicester was targeted by intruders who stole a small safe which contained approximately £800, plus £20 from the till and a small amount of costume jewellery.

The charity depends on the takings from the Fosse Road North shop and three others to meet the costs of running its animal sanctuary, which is in Markfield.

Jean Redmile, who launched the refuge with her family in 1986, said: "This is the first shop we opened and is vital for the work we do. They broke our till and took the £20 float from it. Then they found our safe and took that too. There would have been around £800 in the safe.

"The other distressing part of it was the damage they caused when they were looking through the shop. They threw clothes on the floor and walked all over them.

"The shop was in quite a state when the volunteers came along in the morning to open up. They were all very upset.

"We would ask anyone who knows who has done this to us or who saw anyone acting suspiciously near the shop to contact the police."

The thieves broke in through a fire escape a couple of days before Christmas.

The shop hopes to re-open shortly once the damaged fire escape door has been repaired.

Dee Ludlam, one of the volunteers at the shop, said: "I can't say what I think about people who'd break into a charity shop.

"When we told customers someone had broken into the shop they were absolutely disgusted.

"All of the volunteers here feel exactly the same. It's absolutely clear what kind of shop this is, but they broke in anyway.

"We're all here because we love animals and the thought that these people have harmed what we are trying to do here is very upsetting."

The animal sanctuary, in Shaw Lane, Markfield, provides permanent homes for all ill, elderly or ill-treated animals. Some are placed in new homes, while others see out their days in the charity's care.

It cares for domestic pets such as cats, dogs as well horses, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, ducks, geese and owls.

No animal is put down unless a vet advises otherwise.

The sanctuary is open to visitors seven days a week between 10am and 4pm.

The charity also has shops in Hinckley Road, in Leicester's West End, Loughborough and Shepshed.

Police are investigating the break-in, which happened overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, December 21 and 22, and have urged anyone with information to contact the force's non-emergency number 101.