THIEVES stole £400 worth of alcohol from a cafe and restaurant in Accrington during the early hours of yesterday morning.

Two windows were smashed at Lily Mae’s Bistro in King Street at around 6am before the intruders stole spirits such as vodka and whiskey from the bar inside as well as cash and two handheld phones.

Ian Gregg, owner of Lily Mae’s, said that he had unfortunately come to expect such crimes in the area and spent most of the day trying to sort things out.

He said: “There are a few commercial garages in the area that have been broken into recently, now this.

“I hope the police do catch whoever it is because this was not happening 10 years ago.

“We have managed to restock all of the spirits that were stolen but it has cost £400 to replace them.”

Thieves broke into Mr Gregg’s garage Auto Fix in Argyle Street, Accrington a few weeks ago when they cut their way in through the roof and used ladders they had stolen from further down the street to get inside.

The eatery was back open for business yesterday morning after the windows had been boarded up.