VOLUNTEERS from Queen’s Park Cafe have been left shocked after it was broken into a short time after hosting an event aimed at promoting peace.

The wooden hut was targeted on Sunday evening with £200 worth of stock being taken and around £300 worth of damage being caused.

Earlier that day, the cafe took part in a picnic in the park event being held to mark the international Peace One Day festivities.

The United Nations event aimed to have a day of ceasefire and non-violence across the globe as part of a long-term aim to bring all wars to an end.

But Jill Follett, who runs the cafe, said those behind the raid clearly didn’t take the sentiment on board.

“It is sadly ironic that this happened on a day promoting peace,” she said.

“We’d had a good day and had taken in a bit of money, which was going to be used for the good of the community, and now it’ll have to be spent on repairs.

“We are all volunteers and it is very upsetting to see this happen.”

The outside of the cafe has suffered damage in the break-in while the inside of the wooden hut was vandalised.

The incident has been reported to police, who are investigating.

The cafe, which opens from April to October, was broken into last year as well.

Profits from the cafe, which has been running for five years, are used to produce a community newsletter, buy benches and organise events in the park.

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott), who is the cafe’s chairman, said: “It would never be nice for something like this to have happened but it is particularly sad that this happened on a day commemorating peace.

“We don’t keep any money at the shop, so they had nothing to take other than our stock, which I just don’t understand.

“They’ve taken food, drinks and even sauce sachets.

“It was not a great thing to wake up to on Monday morning. The money we raise is basically recycled back into the community but unfortunately we are now stuck with a big repair bill which limits the good things that we can do.”

Anyone who witnessed the break-in is being urged to contact Wiltshire Police on 101.