Charity money taken in vets raid

Thieves stole six charity boxes after targeting a Shropshire vets' practice.

Burglars smashed a window at Bridgefield Veterinary Surgery, High Street, Wem, before stealing the boxes thought to contain about £100. They fled along a footpath by the railway line and into a field leading to Aston Road.

Some of the boxes were found empty in the field at about 6.30am today.

Vet Dean Halligan said the break-in was the latest in a series of crimes at the practice. In the past vandals have smashed windows, ripped guttering, pulled down flags from the outside of the surgery and painted graffiti on the walls.

He said the problem had become so bad, staff were considering putting up a security fence.

"Each year seems to be worse than the last," he said. "I don't know if it's the same group of kids but they seem to be going further each time.

"If you go around the back of the building after a weekend you will find alcohol bottles and cans everywhere.

"I also get concerned that if they do manage to get in, they have got access to a lot of dangerous drugs and some pretty lethal stuff."

Police are now examining CCTV footage of the area.

Constable Annie Hughes said: "This area has a lot of houses and I urge anyone who might have seen people near the vets or on the footpath or field to contact me on 08457 444888."