Burglars caused thousands of pounds of damage at an award-winning charity after drilling through a wall to evade an alarm system.

Thieves made a 25 to 30cm thick brick wall in the Vine Project's head office on the border of Mitcham and Hackbridge last week to evade the building's sophisticated alarm system.

They then crawled into the charity's back office, forcing their way into the safe - stealing just £30 inside.

But as they smashed through the wall they damaged a radiator, which flooded the charity's stock room.

It caused at least £1000 of damage to stock, which provides refurbished and recycled furniture to low income households, and placements to help vulnerable people back into work.

Chief executive Monica Tyler, 46, said: "It really is low to target a charity like ours, which helps the most vulnerable in our communities, and that's who these criminals have taken from."

She said she believed the robbery was carried out by sophisticated thieves, who knew how to evade the alarm system.

The break-in at the unit in the Willow Lane industrial estate in Wandle Way took place overnight from February 29 to March 1.

It followed another break-in 18 months ago when £2300 was stolen.

The charity is insured, but the organisation had to close while the problems were fixed, and the damaged stock would take some time to replace.

Started in Sutton 13 years ago, the charity is one of the key volunteer programmes based in Sutton, which provides opportunities for work based and accredited training for the long term unemployed.

Priority is given to people with learning disabilities, mental health illnesses and adults recovering from addiction.

The Vine Project was honoured for its commitment to the community at the Merton Business Awards, and its workers given awards by Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow.

It was saved from closure by business donations last year after delays to a grant threw it into financial difficulty.