BURGLARS broke into a Rossendale music venue this week escaping with electrical equipment worth thousands.

The thieves ransacked The Artisan in Brook Street, Rawtenstall, in the early hours of Monday. They smashed through a padlock on the double fire doors at the side of the building and then raided the bar area, before leaving with a laptop, tablet, CD mixer and microphones. They also stole several bottles of spirits and destroyed the till.

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Detectives say the break-in was carried out some time between 12.30am and 10.30am on Monday. The bar, which puts on DJs and live music, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Danny Solazzo, who took over the business with his wife Beth in December, says he only found out about the burglary when a supplier of local craft beers alerted him after he went to the building.

“I dashed over and they had used something like a crowbar to prise the doors open.

“We were very upset as they had turned the place upside down and destroyed the till. It looked like they were after money but we don’t keep cash on site,” said Mr Solazzo.

“The main thing is no one got hurt. We have built up a massive following and things are going really well. I’m a positive person so we got the door fixed and the redeeming thing about it all is the support we have had through social media. We have been inundated with messages. The burglary was upsetting but we are not taking it personally.”

The Artisan originally opened as a cafe bar in 2003 and has had several changes of owners since then.

Over the years it has staged several high-profile names from the world of music.

Since Rossendale-born Mr Solazzo took over, Terry Hall of The Specials has performed there and this Friday DJ Clint Boon of the Inspiral Carpets, is bringing his unique set to the bar.

A police spokesman said the raid is being investigated.