Medication and beauty products have been stolen from a pharmacy which was partially destroyed in a fire.

Owner Stephen Kane, of Pender Pharmacy in Gravesend, has said it is "frustrating" as he cannot access the site to secure the products.

He said: "The problem is, although the building is secure people can gain access through the old pub. We are desperate to get in there and secure it all.

"The only two avenues are removing the medication which we cannot do as it is still not safe to enter the building. Or we have to secure every access point and we cannot do that as the roads are closed and people would need to get vans to it.

"It has been frustrating. There is nothing we can do about the break-ins and that is what is so frustrating. We are not able to get in so I cannot tell what has gone."

Mr Kane – who has been alerted to the break-ins by police and neighbouring businesses – said the front door of the pharmacy has also been damaged.

A structural engineer has been down to the premises this week and confirmed it is still not safe to enter and will need internal scaffolding.

The shop has been closed since May 26 after a massive blaze broke out in neighbouring business and former pub and left the pharmacy with extensive damage.

Police confirmed there have been multiple incidents at the premises in Milton Road since the fire.

Between May 26 and June 14 a burglary is reported to have happened where medication was reported to have been stolen.

On June 15, a 36-year-old man from Gravesend was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs after he was reported to have prescription medication.

A 46-year-old man was also arrested on June 24 for handling stolen goods after medication reported missing was recovered inside a vehicle he was stopped in.

Both men have been released under investigation while inquiries continue.

At around 2am on June 21 the force was made aware of another incident in progress at the pharmacy and three people were arrested on suspicion of burglary. Medication and beauty products were recovered.

Officers arrested a man, 40, from Longfield and another, 41, from Gravesend. Both have been bailed until July 16 and 27 respectively while inquiries continue.

Michael Johnson, 41, of Old Road East, Gravesend, was arrested and later charged with burglary other than dwelling.

Mr Johnson was also charged with theft from a vehicle other than a motor vehicle and theft from a shop relating to other incidents.

He appeared before Medway Magistrates' Court on June 23 where he was remanded in custody to appear before Maidstone Crown Court on July 21.

Patients can ring Pender Pharmacy on 01474 323828 as normal and the team are currently working out of Gravesend Medical Centre.