VOLUNTEERS at Rowde Village Shop have been praised for their actions after the premises were broken into.

There was a call in the middle of Monday night from police to tell them the premises had been broken into.

But security measures including an alarm and CCTV paid off and the raiders, who smashed locks to gain entry, left empty-handed.

Parish council chairman Jackie Bawden said: “It seems they were only interested in the safe and when they could not open it they fled.

“A full inventory is still being carried out but it seems nothing else was taken.”

She said she was glad that when the community shop first opened a sophisticated security system was installed.

Mrs Bawden said: “It is very upsetting that this break-in happened at a community shop but we are pleased the security measures were in place.”

The shop in Marsh Lane, next to the Cross Keys pub, is run by a management committee and is run by one paid manager and a team of volunteers.

Volunteer Jane Weatherstone said on Monday that volunteers had rallied around all morning to clear up the shop and get it open by lunch time.

She said: “It is dreadful that something like this has happened here. The shop is run by volunteers who give up their time.”

Early on Monday morning a message on the shop door from manager Jan Barber told of the break-in and said papers would be delivered as soon as possible.

Chris Collett, chairman of the village shop shareholders’ association, praised the volunteers saying: “They did a great job and the shop was back open by 11am.”