THOUSANDS of pounds worth of stock was stolen from two struggling businesses in Rubery on Saturday, just months after they were left devastated by a fire.

Amy's Floral Designs and M&D Mobile Solutions were among eight firms forced to temporarily close in October last year, after a fire caused by an electrical fault tore through the main market hall of Father's Barn in New Road.

The two companies, which were least affected by the blaze, were able to rise from the ashes and begin selling again within a few weeks.

But the business owners suffered a second blow at the weekend, after discovering thieves had broken in through a skylight and taken several thousands of pounds worth of stock.

Amy Jones, who owns Amy's Floral Designs, said: "We came in on Saturday morning and the skylight window had been completely smashed through and there was a ladder sticking out through the ceiling into the shop which they had kindly left behind.

"There were footprints all the way through the shop and the backdoor had been completely smashed through to gain access to the phone shop."

Amy estimated that around £1,500 worth of Village and Goose Creek scented candles had been stolen.

"It really was a shock," she added. "The skylight in the roof had got bars on it and security glass and it's not the kind of thing you'd think someone could get through. You just don't expect this kind of thing to happen."

Various items were also stolen from the adjacent mobile phone shop, including screens, laptops and speakers, as well as the contents of a cash box.

West Mercia Police confirmed officers are investigating the burglary and is asking anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the New Road area at the weekend to contact them on 101, quoting incident number 183s.