Burglars fled with just £10 after causing £2,000 damage to a Brighton community centre.

They smashed through a toilet window of the Old Boat Corner centre in Hollingbury and used tools to break through doors early yesterday.

They tried to smash their way into the bar area but failed and left with coins from a pay telephone.

Community association chairman Chris Goddard said the damage was a blow but the centre would remain open.

Parents with young children were turned away initially from a playgroup at the centre but the group was later allowed to continue.

Mr Goddard and colleagues went to the centre at 4am to begin cleaning up.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said the alarm went off at 2.24am and police responded immediately.

She said: "We think the offenders were scared off by the alarm. We recovered a stolen car from outside and we are investigating to see whether this was used by the intruders."

Scenes of crime officers were checking the tools found for fingerprints.

Witnesses or anyone with information should contact Brighton police on 0845 6070999.