£15,000 of clothing stolen from Ludlow shop

Bodenhams, on the corner of Broad Street and King Street in Ludlow was broken into at about 4.30am on Wednesday.

Monika Curry, 33, whose husband Roger is the fifth generation of the Bodenham family to run the store, said they were alerted when the shop alarm sounded remotely at their home in Dinham, just streets away.

"Roger was there in about three minutes," she said. But the thieves, who had forced the door on the King Street side, had already gone.

Police joined Mr Curry, 47, minutes later and were carrying out forensic analysis yesterday.

Mrs Curry said: "They must have run in, got a handful of Barbour jackets and cleared the shelves of knitwear and shirts on the way out."

After an attempted robbery in May, the owners strengthened the doors and locks. Mrs Curry said they were now considering metal shutters.

She said: "We won't be beaten by this, we won't let this get us down. In the past these kind of things have happened. My mother-in-law went through all kinds of things – in the 1980s there was a whole floor cleared – but she carried on.

"We have been here for over 100 years and we want to be here in 100 years time. We have a good, loyal customer base. We will keep calm and carry on the proper British spirit."

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "It's believed the suspects could have been in a silver Audi A4. It's thought they drove off down Broad Street. Anyone who spotted this car or someone acting suspiciously is asked to call Ludlow police on 101. We are advising people to call the police if offered Barbour jackets and shirts for sale."

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.