THE Red Cross Centre in Andover has been the target for thieves and vandals this autumn - causing damage running into four figures, says volunteer Dot Hibberd.

Mrs Hibberd, who has been at the centre in Suffolk Road for the past nine years, says the trouble started in August when a charity worker had a car window smashed.

Since then there have been four burglaries - all of them at weekends.

"In the first break-in somebody forced a lock, searched the premises and made a terrible mess by leaving everything piled in a heap on the floor," she said.

"They broke into collection boxes only to steal a few coppers.

"But they did find some keys and managed to find £150 in cash.

"We no longer leave any money here overnight."

Since then doors and windows have been targeted and in the latest incident somebody unscrewed the doors to an outside store where walking frames, commodes and wheelchairs are kept.

"Several wheelchairs were taken and later recovered a short distance away.

"But one new, black unmarked self-propelled wheelchair worth about £300 is still missing," said Dot. "They must have come here specially equipped to get into the shed.

"I'm afraid my opinion of the people who have done these things is not printable."

The items are loaned out to hard pressed families caring for sick relatives at home. Everyone at the centre is a volunteer, mostly elderly, and as well as the problems caused by the burglars the workers have to clear up the mess caused by unthinking teenagers who congregate outside the centre in the evenings. They leave bottles, crisp packets and cigarette ends all over the place. "It is disgusting out there in the morning," said Dot She added: "And we have to clear it up."