Thieves smashed a salon's front window to steal two charity boxes and stock worth more than £4,000.

Offenders broke a glass panel at Lucas Hair, in West Malling High Street, between midnight and around 6am today.

They stole around a dozen GHD straighteners, hairdryers and KMS products, as well as two donation boxes.

One contained money for the Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford and the other was helping to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Owner Annie Lucas said: "They obviously knew what they were looking for. They didn't cause any other damage apart from the broken window.

"It's a massive inconvenience for us as they've stolen our equipment but I'm even more disgusted they would steal the charity boxes.

"It's hard to say how much the tins had in them but I know our customers are always very generous."

Several people called police at around 6.40am after seeing the smashed glass.

Forensics attended and were still at the scene when Mrs Lucas opened at 9am.

She added: "We made sure the salon was safe as the customers' safety is our first priority but then it has been business as usual. It's given the clients something to talk about with all the police here."

Mrs Lucas, who lives nearby in Offham, said this is the first time the salon has been targeted by criminals since she opened it seven years ago.

In August 2013, armed robbers raided Andrew Smith Jewellers, which is next door to Lucas Hair, in broad daylight.

Mrs Lucas said: "I can't believe people are brazen enough to burgle a salon in the middle of a High Street.

"It's such a shame as West Malling is a lovely area."

People with information about the incident are asked to contact Kent Police by calling 101.