A POPULAR town centre tea room was forced to close after thieves broke in and left fridge doors open.

Co-owner Marie Turton discovered the break-in last Thursday morning at the Regency Tea Rooms, in High Street.

Thieves had prised off an iron security bar on a window at the back of the store and used a scaffolding pole to smash the glass.

A charity box for Romanian orphans was stolen and the fridge doors were left open by the raiders.

Co-owner Liz, who runs the shop with her sister, said: "By opening the doors they ruined all our fresh produce so we were unable to open up that day.

"We never leave any cash on the premises overnight so it could be that when they discovered there was no money they opened the fridge doors in spite."

Liz said a sign would now be put in the front window saying no cash was left at the premises overnight to deter other would-be thieves.

She estimated the break-in had caused about £1,000 losses, due to losing a day's takings and replacing food stocks.

A Bromsgrove police spokesman said the raid took place between 5pm on Wednesday, March 30, and 7.40am on Thursday, March 31.

Witnesses, or anyone with information about the break-in, should contact the police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

sarah.mawhinney@midlands.newsquest.co.uk