THE boss of a community cafe in Darwen has remained defiant after intruders broke into her town centre premises and walked off with some of the takings.

Thieves broke into Cafe Hub, in Foundry Street, overnight on Thursday and Friday, it is understood, causing damage to get into the property.

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Dawn Hardman took over the enterprise last October, which opened in 2013, pledging to give the cafe a new purpose, as well as offering tempting hot meals at affordable prices.

People recovering from social problems and substance abuse volunteer at the hub, under the direction of Dawn, a project co-ordinator for Blackburn with Darwen Community and Voluntary Service.

She said: “Last night the cafe was broken into. The thieves only got away with a small amount of cash, but caused some damage in order to gain access.

“It’s saddening to think that an organisation of this kind, that makes no profit, and only serves to support people, would be subject to such cruel behaviour.”

But she has pledged that the incident will not detract from the cafe’s mission, which also sees it using an upstairs room at the venue for support meetings for recovering alcoholics, drug abusers and people suffering from mental health difficulties. Art classes have also been hosted above the cafe.

Town councillor Eileen Entwistle, who performed the reopening last autumn, added: “It makes you angry and sad as well when you’ve got an organisation like this, which is only trying to do good in the community, and people are stealing from them.

“It is awful – we had our Christmas meal in there with our credit union and we know that they have been working so hard to provide a service to the people of Darwen.

“You don’t know how anyone could do something like this – it’s like when people break into charity shops.”

An investigation is underway by Lancashire Police and any witnesses can contact the force on the non-emergency number, 101, or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.