BURGLARS broke into a Swindon charity shop and stole cash and jewellery worth more than £600 but left behind a spot of blood.

The Prospect Hospice shop in Victoria Road, Old Town, was targeted by thieves who smashed in the front door, causing £100 worth of damage.

Police are hoping a patch of blood left in the shop doorway will help catch the burglars through DNA matching.

The gang broke into the safe, which contained more than £500 and raided the till, stealing a further £50 kept as float money. Jewellery was also taken from displays in the shop.

Val Simmons, the shop's relief manager from Swindon, said she was shocked that anyone could steal from a charity shop.

The £600 stolen could have bought the charity a syringe driver to administer drugs to patients suffering serious illnesses like advanced cancer or Aids or it would have funded a patient's stay for a day, including nursing care, lunch and transport.

Mrs Simmons, who is in her 50s, said: "I brought some books in that someone had donated on Sunday and was very shocked to be confronted by the broken door.

"I feel sick that people can do this to a charity shop. We have had to clear up after the police had dusted everywhere down for fingerprints.

"We are now making sure no money is left on the premises at night. You have to be so careful."

Mrs Simmons, who has worked as a volunteer for 18 months said it was difficult to estimate the value of goods stolen. "As we are not a proper shop with an inventory we don't really know what jewellery was taken and how much it was worth," she said.

"But the thieves left the pennies, and the two and five pence pieces because they were obviously too heavy to take."

David Line, general manager of Prospect Hospice, said: "I feel extremely angry about this theft. This was money raised to help support our patients with life-threatening illnesses and contributed to the £2.4 million we need to raise each year. I hope the intruders will have a change of conscience and return the money."

Greedy Guts sandwich shop, next door, reported a break in on Wednesday evening last week in which burglars also left behind the small change after stealing larger quantities of cash.

Police spokesman Alvina Kumar said: "The police are not ruling out that the burglaries are connected."

Anyone with information can contact police on Swindon 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.