THIEVES stole hundreds of pounds from a bookmakers in the early hours following a break-in.

Intruders smashed their way into the William Hill shop in The Victory Centre, Nelson, at about 4am and left with around £500 in cash.

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It is reportedly the sixth break-in at the centre in the last 15 months.

Speaking after the latest break-in a caretaker at the Victory Centre said: “They had forced open the locks on the gates and smashed through a display window.

“They got into a safe and got away with some cash.

“I think it is the sixth burglary we have had in Victory Centre in the past 15 months.”

It comes less than two weeks after the nearby Pendleside Hospice shop was broken into leaving charity bosses with potential repair bills of hundreds of pounds.

Emergency repairs had to be carried out on the Scotland Road shop after the incident which was described as “wanton destruction” by an eyewitness.

Meanwhile last year, £10,000 worth of damage was caused to the centre after vandals smashed ceilings and fixtures as well as 150 fluorescent lighting tubes in an empty unit when the building was broken into.

Thieves broke in through a fire door of an empty unit which used to house Argos.

A spokesman for William Hill confirmed the break-in.

He said: “At 3.59am our monitoring system registered an intrusion and the police were contacted.”

The shopping centre between Scotland Road and Leeds Road was built in 1993. There are several flats above the shops.

A police spokesman said thieves stole £500 from William Hill in the break-in.

He said: “They forced open the outer gates before gaining access through a smashed window. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”