Charity shop bosses have been left distraught after it was raided at its “busiest time of the year”.

Gold jewellery and cash was swiped during a break-in at the RSPCA store in Tankerton near Whitstable.

The branch has lost about £1,000, which includes an estimated cost to repair a smashed window.

Canterbury area manager Denise Johnson-Rogers said: “A lot of shops are run by local volunteers.

“We work so hard to make every pound for the animals and it is quite upsetting when this happens.

“We need more money after Christmas as people give their animals up.

“Our shops have problems with shoplifting as well - there is no respect for the fact we are a charity.”

Volunteers at the store say the money stolen during the break-in could have bought them 2,000 cans of cat food.

It also lost takings because staff had to wait for police and forensics to attend.

But the shop reopened later in the day.

Volunteers arrived at the store last Saturday and discovered items had been snatched and the damage to the building.

They believe the break-in happened between 4pm last Friday and 9am on Saturday.

'We work so hard to make every pound for the animals and it is quite upsetting when this happens...' - Canterbury area manager Denise Johnson-Rogers

Christmas is a busy period for the RSPCA as there is a surge of pets being abandoned during the period.

Mrs Johnson-Rogers has urged people to donate to any of the Canterbury branch RSPCA shops - located between Sittingbourne and Dover - to raise money.

“If in the next week we could raise the takings by £1,000, that would do it,” she added.

“If everyone does a little bit, that all adds up.”

Police received a report that a shop in Tankerton Road, Whitstable, was burgled between 4.30pm on Friday, December 13, and 8.15am the next morning.

A spokesperson said: “A quantity of cash is reported to have been stolen and, at present, no suspects have been identified.”

Anyone with information about the raid is asked to call police on 01843 222289, quoting 46/238494/19.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or using the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable