Ref. 28738-13A CHARITY which helps families had its premises burgled days after learning it could be closed because of cost cutting measures by Swindon Council

Home-Start's Milton Road building was ransacked and burglars took £200 cash, a combined video and TV, 11 packets of biscuits, five jars of coffee and a carton of soup.

They left behind computers, a photocopier and a CD player even though they forced their way through three doors.

The charity's senior organiser Jan Aylward says it is a further blow during uncertainty about the future.

She said: "I just felt sick when I saw the damage. If the problem with the funding wasn't dreadful enough, then this happens."

The premises were burgled two years ago in a similar fashion, when the offenders stole biscuits and cash.

Mrs Aylward added: "It is most peculiar. Maybe it was someone who was homeless and wanted something to eat. They took a carton of soup from the fridge."

For the last 21 years the group has trained volunteers who provide support for families finding it difficult to cope with young children.

It receives £33,000 from the council and the Swindon Primary Care Trust and fundraises £10,000.

The council is looking to save money across the board to keep any rise in council tax this spring to around five per cent.

Mrs Aylward was about to go to a meeting with Swindon Council to discuss this issue but popped into the office before hand and discovered the burglary. She said: "Cuts to children's services are short sighted. Young children affect us all, whether they are our own or not.

"If you put families on the right when the children are little then you are preventing further problems such as anti social behaviour in the future."

Tracy Hanks, 37, of Overbrook Road, received help from a Home-start volunteer after she had her twins Harry and Oliver, who are both now two-years-old.

At the time her eldest son Bradley, three, was also a baby and she said the support she received was invaluable.

She said: "Anyone who burgles a charity is sick. It is just dreadful news after the worry about the funding."

Alvina Kumar from Swindon police said: "This was a heartless theft and we are searching for the culprits."

Anyone with information relating to the burglary is asked to contact Swindon police on 528111 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

Bhavani Vadde