SKIPTON Building Society has stepped in to support a hospice targeted by callous thieves.

Manorlands was cleared out of desperately-needed equipment worth about £5,000 by the ruthless raiders.

They stole power tools and other items, many of them donated by grateful relatives of patients, from an outbuilding at the Oxenhope centre.

The haul ranged from chainsaws, hedge trimmers and leaf-blowers to trowels and spirit levels.

It was the second time in weeks criminals had targeted the hospice.

Now, shocked Skipton Building Society staff are helping Manorlands replace some of the items and upgrade its security following the latest incident in March.

An initial £1,000 cheque was handed over and the society has also donated and installed new security lighting and video surveillance equipment.

And employees are continuing to give replacement tools.

"We were absolutely appalled when we learned our local hospice – caring for terminally-ill people – had been targeted by thieves," said Nick Clarke, the society's community relations consultant.

"The groundswell of support and desire to do something to help from our workforce was incredible.

"As a large business, it's with a heavy heart that many of our employees have seen family, friends and even work colleagues need the first-rate care that the team at Manorlands provides.

"We wanted to do a little bit to try to make-up for the distress such a callous act has caused the Manorlands family."

Tribute has been paid by hospice fundraiser, Karen Jones.

"We are so thankful to Skipton Building Society and its staff for their ongoing support – especially following on from the burglary – and for helping us to continue providing the incredible care we are renowned for," she said.

"Their generous donations will help limit the damage caused by this theft and hopefully help prevent future ones."

Manorlands supports patients and their families at the hospice and in the community, across an area covering Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale as well as parts of Bradford.

All services are free to patients and their loved ones, but it costs £8,000 a day to keep the hospice doors open.

Only a small part of the cost is covered by statutory funds.

For details of how people can support the hospice, visit sueryder.org/manorlands or facebook.com/SueRyderManorlandshospice, tweet @SRManorlands, e-mail Karen.jones2@sueryder.org or Carly.brunskill@sueryder.org or call 01535 640430.