A masked thug smashed the glass front doors of a Teesside hospice before fleeing the grounds. The incident at Alice House Hospice in Hartlepool happened last night - shortly after the charity had enjoyed its first successful Halloween fundraising event.

Now, the Wells Avenue hospice, which provides vital care for those with a terminal illness and their families, will have to find the money for the costly repairs. The charity said at around 9.45pm on Sunday, an unknown masked individual approached the hospice and smashed the glass in the main front doors with a hammer before leaving the grounds.

They said it is not believed to have been an attempted robbery, but rather an act of intentional damage. Staff on duty were shaken, but were reassured by the speedy response of hospice patrons, NE

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