THE volunteers who run a charity shop in Saltash which raises money to help children and young people with cancer, have spoken of their disgust after their premises were targeted by vandals for the seventh time in the last 18 months.

The latest incident at the CLIC Sargent shop in Fore Street has caused damage estimated at £1,000.

Installation of security fencing, a move which would cost £2,000, is now being considered to protect the premises against future vandalism.

Shop manager Sam Pratt said she discovered the latest attack at the isolated rear of the building two weekends ago when she opened the shop on a Monday.

Vandals had kicked down the back gate, breaking the hinges, and then climbed onto the roof, breaking 15 tiles. They also threw the rubbish from the bins around the area.

On the following Tuesday night, vandals entered the rear of the premises again and did more damage by stamping on and breaking up the tiles from the previous incident.

The woodwork on the roof is now exposed and it's been raining heavily. Sam said water could eventually leak down onto the shop floor.

The attacks came only two weeks after thieves, working in broad daylight, stole donated stock that had been left in the shop's doorway. They drove off in a white van in what was the latest in a long string of thefts.

Sam said: 'It makes you despair at human nature. Who would cause such senseless damage and steal donated stock? Don't they realise we are trying to help children and young people fighting cancer?

'Theft from the shop, or damaging it, is effectively stealing from sick children.'

Sam said they had no idea why individuals had been targeting their shop and that it had just started out of the blue.

'It's soul-destroying after putting in so much work. The volunteers and staff are disgusted,' she added.

CLIC Sargent area retail manager Sally Crabtree said: 'It is deeply disappointing that our premises in Saltash have been wilfully damaged in this way again.

'Each act of vandalism costs the charity money which we should be spending on children with cancer.

'We will now have to consider brand new security fencing at an even greater cost to prevent this destruction from reoccurring. It is a great shame.'

Saltash CLIC is now appealing for donations of good-quality items to sell, to replace lost stock, and is urging people to leave their goods with the volunteers when the shop is open. 'We need to try to make back what we have lost and all donations would be gratefully received,' said Sam.