THIEVES have plundered and a wrecked a pet shop just a week after it opened.

Distraught Pat Cook, of Pets' World, Darwen, was left to pick up the pieces after the raiders kicked in the door, scattered stock on the floor and stole a haul of animal goods.

She said: "Everything was upside down and in a real state.

"It's unbelievable that this has happened so soon after I took over the shop. It's not been a very good start."

The stolen items were later found abandoned in an empty back yard in nearby Redearth Road and returned to Mrs Cook by police.

Anybody with information about the break-in, which happened on Monday night, can contact Darwen police on 01254 701777.

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