A RINGWOOD antiques shop that only this week featured on television show Celebrity Antiques Road Trip has been targeted by thieves.

Lorraine Tarrant-Heckford who runs Lorraine Tarrant Antiques at The Stables in Stride Lane has been devastated by the break-in.

In addition to running the shop she also cares for her nine-year-old son Jon, who has Sanfilippo syndrome, a terminal wasting disease.

“This is just devastating. I’ve got enough in my life with Jon being poorly, for this to happen is just destroying,” she said. “After having the lovely coverage on TV everything is shattered.”

Lorraine found out about the break-in yesterday morning (Wednesday, November 29). The door had been forced open. She said: “When I arrived the door was completely shattered. I just broke down in tears, it is just so awful. I’m trying my hardest with Jon to keep everything going.”

Lorraine says a till with a quantity of cash was taken but thieves left the charity boxes that were on the counter.

She says the thieves made a “mess”, “turfing” out the drawers inside the shop. “They made a terrible mess. It is a sad world we live in,” she said. “It is just cruel.”

On Monday, the antiques shop featured in an episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip on BBC Two and she says they were all so happy but this has been marred by the break-in.

Lorraine had the TV crew at her store in April. She was joined by celebrity contestant, actor Geoffrey Whitehead and antiques expert Kate Bliss. The pair showed up for the days filming in a vintage Rolls Royce.

Lorraine said: “I was hoping to open the door today to see the nice customers and having the programme on TV that was so nice - the day’s shattered. We have to be closed until they can secure the door. It is a shame because it’s the run up to Christmas.

“Nobody was hurt.” She added.

Anyone with information contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101, quoting reference number 44170463928.