A RADCLIFFE-BASED children's charity is "heartbroken" after thieves ransacked their new charity shop on the same day of its launch celebration.

Forget Me Not Children's Hospice held a special opening party for its new charity shop in Royton, Oldham, on Easter Saturday.

But later that day, thieves vandalised the retail unit by smashing glass windows and doors, damaging internal fire doors, pulling the safe off the wall, and stealing around £500 of takings and float money.

A police investigation has been launched.

Forget Me Not hosted an opening event at their new shop in Oldham Road on Saturday with a pop-up tea shop, games and Easter-themed activities.

But staff said the celebrations were short-lived.

Kirsty Franks, general manager of Grace’s Place in Radcliffe, said: "Understandably we’re all shaken up by the break-in that took place over the weekend. The team worked so hard to put on a really fun opening event, and it's heartbreaking that the weekend, which was supposed to be a celebration and bring local people together, was ruined in this way."

Forget Me Not took over Grace's Place in Bury last year, and the charity plans to open its children’s hospice in Dumers Lane for in-house and overnight care in October this year.

The charity appealed for additional support from the community in the face of the break-in at the weekend, which Ms Franks described as a step backwards.

Staff and volunteers pulled together on Easter Sunday to help tidy and fix the shop, so they could open for business as planned on Monday, April 2.

Ms Franks said: "I'm extremely proud of our staff and volunteers for pulling together to make sure we could open as planned this week.

"More than ever, though, we need the support from the community. As well as donating quality, unwanted items such as clothes, books, toys, household items and furniture, we’re asking people to please stop by our new shop to take a look and buy some of the great stock we have.

"We're so close to opening the doors to our new children’s hospice, but we need to raise as much money as possible to make sure we can help the children and families in North Manchester who need our care and support.

"The break-in over the weekend is a step back, but I'm confident with the continued support of our staff, volunteers, fundraisers and people in the community we’ll be able to get back on track."

Forget Me Not is providing a hospice at home service to children with life-shortening conditions and their families across Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.

A GMP spokeswoman said: "There was a burglary at the charity shop between 7pm on Saturday, March 31 and 8am on Sunday, April 1.

"Offenders gained entry to the shop by smashing the door. They damaged the shop and took a quantity of cash.

"Our investigation is ongoing."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 711 of April 1, 2018.