POLICE are appealing for witnesses after more than £500-was stolen from a fish and chip shop.

The burglar broke into The Lemon Plaice, in The Broadway, Beaconsfield, over-night between 9.30pm on Monday last week and 6am on Tuesday.

The thief forced the door open and raided the safe, stealing £556 in takings from that evening's trade.

Tony Basra, manager of the shop, said the cleaner was shaken when she discovered the door had been prised open on Tuesday morning.

Mr Basra said: 'I was telephoned in the morning and she was obviously shaken up by what she discovered. You don't expect to walk in and find something like this.

'It is just annoying really because an evening's takings have just gone and we have had the inconvenience of having to go to the police. This is not the first time something like this has happened. Someone broke in about a year ago.'

Sgt Julian Heard, at Amersham Police, said: 'For a small business this can be a lot of money to have to recuperate, bearing in mind the profits. We would urge anyone who has seen anything at around this time to call us.'

Anyone with information should telephone (01494) 465888