A SHOPKEEPER has been left reeling after his store was ransacked by yobs twice in one night.

Povilas Rackauskas, who manages the Bury Road Convenience Store in Breightmet, says hundreds of pounds' worth of damage was caused when a group of teens targeted the store this week.

Shortly after 10pm on Tuesday, he says a group of three boys entered store just as the owner and shop assistant were closing up.

After being refused alcohol, the youths began fighting and ransacking the shop, with only the two members of staff in at the time.

The group left and the police were called, but the youths returned later that night as part of a larger group and broke in again via a window, causing more damage.

They also caused damage to the owner’s car which was parked nearby.

Mr Rackauskas, who was not in the shop at the time of the incident but helped clear up the next day, said: “It happened just after 10pm when the owner and shop assistant were mopping up and preparing to close.

“Three youngsters came into the shop. They wanted to buy alcohol but they were refused. They were aged about 14 to 16.

“They started fighting and broke a few bottles and cans.

“Once they left the main shutters were closed and the police called, but a larger group returned a few hours later.

“They smashed a small window and broke into the shop again causing even more damage.

“Thankfully our alarm system releases security fog so the kids were unable to see anything inside the shop and take the more expensive bottles of whisky and vodka on the higher shelves, but they did take a few bottles of cocktail mixers.

“Our tobacco stand was badly damaged too. The police arrived once they had all left.”

Despite the considerable damage, Mr Rackauskas opened the shop the next day thanks to the support of the community.

He said: “On Wednesday I spent the morning shovelling broken glass and debris with my colleague.

“We weren’t going to open but after receiving messages on Facebook we decided to keep serving the community.

“We took over the shop a few months ago so never experienced something like this before.

“It was really reassuring when people came to see how we were doing.

“We even had a group of teenagers of a similar age come round to see if they could do anything.”

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for more information.