Thieves smashed into a charity shop raising money for the seriously ill and took a collection box and a float.

Volunteers arrived at the North London Hospice’s shop in North Finchley High Road yesterday morning to find shattered glass and missing items.

The thieves broke in some time between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

Staff say they have been left shocked and upset by the break-in.

The break-in is the second suffered by the charity in the space of seven days after its Wood Green shop was targeted in similar circumstances earlier this week.

The charity’s 17 shops across north London raise money to help care for seriously ill patients and their families at its two centres in North Finchley and Enfield.