Vandals broke into a charity shop and went on a wrecking spree, letting off fire extinguishers and destroying stock.

They broke through the door of the Katharine House hospice shop in Wesley Lane, Bicester, between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on June 6, and caused about £500 of damage.

A small amount of cash was stolen, but store manager Jo Spinks said they ransacked the shop.

She said: "They kicked in the front doors, let off fire extinguishers, smashed glassware, pulled down shelves and pushed over the counter. They wrecked the place.

"It was soul-destroying to look at it. We have all put in a lot of hard work at the shop. We have spent six months getting the shop looking nice and they wrecked it in a small amount of time. I think they are mindless thugs who have got absolutely no thought for anyone or anything."

Mrs Spinks, who with her husband Eddie and two of the shop's volunteers spent June 7 clearing up the mess, urged anyone who may have seen something to call the police. She said they must have been making a lot of noise, which someone must have heard.

Sgt Paul Crook, of Bicester police, said: "The Katharine House hospice is very well regarded and supported by Bicester people and they will be shocked by this deplorable case of burglary and wanton criminal damage.

"We were on the scene within three minutes of the 999 call and officers searched the area and questioned a number of people.

"It was still light, with plenty of people in the town, and it may be that someone recalls seeing one or more youths running away from the Wesley Lane direction."

Anyone with information should call Bicester police on 01869 364520, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.