Preston charity shop reopens a month after being raided and trashed by thieves

Thieves broke into the Age Concern shop in Market Place in the early hours of August 11, just a day after it reopened following four months of lockdown.

As well as looting the safe, thieves also trashed the shop and management were left with no option but to close it for extensive repairs, depriving the charity of a steady financial income.

But on Friday (September 11), exactly a month after it was forced to shut, the charity shop at 28 Market Place will welcome back the city's bargain hunters.

Bel Fry, head of retail, said: "Tomorrow, Age Concern Central Lancashire plans to reopen its Market Place shop in Preston.

"Myself and the team are looking forward to welcoming our customers back again and we hope the community will support our second re-opening and help us get back on our feet.

"We will trade as usual and we are open for donation drop-offs.

"And to anyone who is considering volunteering, please contact us as we have many opportunities across the charity.

"Without the support of our volunteers we simply cannot do what we do."

Even when its doors were forced to close during lockdown, Age Concern continued helping hundreds of older people every week across Lancashire with its Coronavirus Support Service.

The charity's tireless volunteers helped Preston's struggling and vulnerable pensioners with food shopping, over the phone befriending and free food parcels.

Bel added: "The break in was particularly tough for us after we had worked so hard to reopen safely after lockdown.

"All our charity shops have been affected by the lockdown closure including a huge drop in volunteer numbers; a financial loss was the last thing we needed to happen.

"When income and goods are stolen from a charity they are potentially taking support away from a person in need in our local community."

If you would like to volunteer with Age Concern, please visit www.ageisjustanumber.org.uk or call us on 01772 552865.