Determined thieves burrowed their way through the roof of a Bloxwich newsagent from an upstairs flat, steal hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes.

Raiders are believed to have broken in to the flat above Rani News and ripped up the floorboards, before sliding through the hole into the shop.

Staff discovered the break-in when they turned up for work today at the shop in Lichfield Road, Little Bloxwich.

A window was also smashed. Thieves struck between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, said manager Rakesh Rani.

It is expected to cost £2,000 – 3,000 to repair, and is the second time burglars have struck at the shop, with a similar raid taking place around five years ago.

The family-run business has been operating for 15 years and the theft has left them substantially out of pocket.

The occupier of the flat was not in at the time and temporary repairs have been put in place.

Mr Rani, aged 58, said: “We closed the shop on the Saturday at 6.10pm and then came back to open up on Sunday morning and saw what had happened.

“They had broken into the flat and stripped back the wooden floorboards and forced the ceiling so there was a big hole. We have got alarms and CCTV but it had been vandalised.

“Something similar happened five years and you just don’t expect it again. I am angry about whoever has done this, it is a lot of money to lose.”

The damage was discovered at 6.25am yesterday and police were called. The business has been able to open as normal today. Anyone with information should call police at Walsall on 0345 113 5000.