Thieves raided a popular charity shop by dropping in through the ceiling and ransacking the till.

Staff arrived at the Marie Curie Cancer Care Shop in St George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton, to find a large hole in the ceiling.

Raiders made the hole after breaking into the empty flat above.

They stole £80 after smashing into the till. The shop remained closed for most of yesterday morning while the hole was repaired.

Shop manager Nicky Way said: "We all work hard to raise money for charity with volunteers giving their time free of charge.

"We will now have to take extra security measures."

Neighbour Margaret Pracy said: "There are some lovely people round here like Nicky, who does a terrific job for the community and has put a lot into the shop.

"Then there are others, many of them on drugs, who will do anything to get money for their next fix.

"Stealing from a charity shop is totally unacceptable.

"It just shows the depths some people are prepared to sink in order to get some money.

"The thieves have gone to great lengths to break into this shop and they should use that energy to get a job."