A BORDON charity which faced a heavy repair bill following a break-in after Christmas has received support from the town council. Furniture Helpline, on the Woolmer Industrial Estate in Bordon High Street, has been awarded a grant to help with its running costs by Whitehill Town Council. Members of the council's finance and policy committee voted unanimously to approve a grant application from the charity for £465, at a meeting last Monday. The charity, which services and sells unwanted furniture and white goods at low prices, helped 600 needy families across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex last year, although more than one third of these live in Bordon. Burglars broke into the Furniture Helpline office just three days after Christmas 2006 and caused £500 of damage while trying unsuccessfully to get into an adjoining warehouse. (The Helpline's Gerald Robinson is pictured outside the broken-into building). The office was smeared with blood and then flooded as the trespassers cut themselves during the bungled break-in and then attempted to wash away the evidence. The incident happened as the Helpline celebrated its first year back in business after the district council saved it from closure by replacing a delivery van written off in a road accident. In the Helpline's application to the council, Peter Marsh, chairman of the trustees, said: "During the year, our vehicle was damaged beyond repair in an accident. For a while it looked as though the charity may have to close but East Hampshire District Council's cabinet came to the rescue by promising funds to buy a replacement vehicle. We are immensely grateful to them for this show of support." Councillor Zoya Faddy said: "The Helpline does an excellent job and is run on a shoestring, so it is important to help where we can."