A CHILDREN’S centre was left with a £1,000 repair bill after raiders smashed their way in.

Thieves targeted Care 4 Kids, in Blackburn, forcing their way into the build-ing.

They caused irreparable damage to the front door, wrecking reinforced glass, and leaving staff with no choice but to replace it.

A charity cash box, containing around £15, was stolen The organisation, in Agnes Street, Mill Hill, was one of three children’s centres in the area burgled within a week, said police.

An iPad was stolen from Hancock Street Day Nursery, while damage was caused to a window panel in an attempted strike on Hancock Children’s Centre, both in Hancock Street.

The front door of a mosque, in Stansfeld Street, was also damaged in a separate incident.

Anne Horford, operations manager at Care 4 Kids, said: “It is disgusting that someone has focused on a children’s centre.

“That’s really low.

“We don’t have much money as it is so, at the end of the day, it will be the kids who lose out when things like this happen.

“We are a bit worried because we thought that we had a high-quality security system in place.

“We’ve even got security cameras.

“But, after this incident, we have had to up our game.”

Police are investigating whether the incidents at the centres are connec-ted.

Mill Hill councillor Carol Walsh said: “I think these burglaries show the desperation of certain people in the area.

“We need the government to reinstate funding so that we can push ahead with regeneration.

“At the moment, I think the lack of this is just leading to increased crime because the wrong sorts of people are being attracted to the area.”

A spokesman for Lanc-ashire Police said: “We are looking into two burglaries, one attempted burglary, and one instance of criminal damage, in the Mill Hill area, which took place between May 14 and 26.

“We are not sure, as yet, if the incidents are linked.”