AN ASHCOTT woman has been left heartbroken after callous thieves broke into her home and stole money she had raised to fund a trip to Ghana to help disadvantaged children.

Debbie Shingler is planning to take on the trip to celebrate her 50th birthday in April - but her plans were put in jeopardy after she came home from visiting family to find her home had been ransacked.

The criminals made off with around £500 which had been raised to go toward the trip, as well as various pieces of electronic equipment including a laptop and a smartphone.

"It was devastating to come back and find the house ransacked. I had raised that money over the past few months, put on quizzes and bingo nights, only for it all to be stolen," Debbie said.

"Nobody has been arrested as the thieves left no fingerprints. The home backs on to The Ring Of Bells and they managed to sneak through the hedgerows. They even made off with the car keys and house keys so we have had to pay significant sums to change the locks on both."

Debbie has fibromyalgia and cares for her husband Andrew, who suffers with a rare genetic skin disorder epidermoloysis bullosa. The condition means the skin is so thin it blisters constantly.

She said the community has rallied round to back Debbie in wake of the break-in, and a new crowdfunding page has been set up which has already raised a further £152 of Debbie's £500 target.

"Hopefully the insurance will cover the money and stolen items but it won't be sorted in time for the April trip to Africa," Mrs Shingler said.

"But the village have been fantastic donating money, clothes and toys to help the children. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and is helping me make this dream of mine come true."

Debbie said she looked at several charitable organisations before choosing to support the Dream of Africa foundation where she will be helping in an orphanage.

If you want to donate to Debbie's cause visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/debbie-shingler.