Just a few days before a new family entertainment centre opens at Silverdale, thieves have struck the voluntary organisation behind the new project.

Two men stole a teak bookcase from outside the home of the founder of the new centre, Sandy Huyton, in Douglas on Tuesday night. The bookcase was left for just two minutes outside the house and a witness saw two men carrying it away. Police are investigating.

"I cannot believe it," said Sandy. "We left the bookcase in the lane and went to the front to drive the van around to collect it, and the bookcase was gone. It's not highly valuable, but it was a lovely piece of furniture and perfect for the children's books to be displayed at the Dolittle's Centre.

"I'm hoping the police investigation will be successful. It was a heavy piece of furniture and they couldn't have taken it very far."