A HOLIDAY aimed at giving selfless teens a break from looking after sick family members was ruined as thieves raided a minibus packed with precious belongings.

Memories made on the once-a-year break for the young carers were overshadowed after they discovered their community transport mini-bus had been broken into and all their 12 suitcases stolen.

The group of youngsters from all over South Lakeland, who dedicate their lives to helping look after parents and siblings, said they had been left 'devastated'.

Among the items snatched from the bus were:

* A teddy bear bought by a kind-hearted teenager for £50 to surprise her four-year-old brother, whom she helps to care for, who has autism and epilepsy.

* An irreplaceable photo of a carer and her terminally ill father.

* An expensive camera containing photos of the carers' mini-break.

* And a much-loved Stetson hat belonging to a teenager who cares for his wheelchair-bound mum.

Also taken were clothes, mobile phones, an electronic tablet device, hair straighteners and gifts bought by the youngsters.

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Benita Finch, Operations Manager at South Lakeland Carers, which organised the three-day trip to Manchester, said: "These are young people who have tough lives so these breaks mean so much to them.

"They just don't get the chance to do things like that so it's a lifeline for them.

"Nothing like this has ever happened before and it's had a huge impact on the carers who feel really let down."

South Lakeland Carers supports 193 unpaid young carers aged five to 19 who look after family or friends with disabilities, mental health or alcohol problems.

The residential break to Manchester is just one of the services it offers once a year.

Ten of the young carers, accompanied by two staff members, had already enjoyed two fun-filled nights in the city when they stopped off at indoor snowsports centre the Chill Factore on their way home.

But when carer Kayla Laisby, of Grange-over-Sands, headed out to the Cumbria Community Transport bus, she found it empty.

"I thought: 'This isn't happening' then just sat on the floor and cried. I was absolutely gutted," said the 16-year-old, who was on a break from looking after her 52-year-old father Alan who has terminal cancer.

Offenders had used what is believed to be a chisel to gain access via the driver's door - leaving the bus damaged and unusable for the next community group scheduled to hire it.

"I had spent over £100 in Manchester which I had been saving up for for a few months," added Kayla. "There was also make up in there and a photo of me with my dad when I was younger. It was the best trip we've ever had."

Speaking of her role as a carer, she said: "I do cooking and cleaning which is the physical part but there is also the mental side to it - he gets very angry and doesn't want to lose us so he pushes us away."

Her father was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and was given a predicted six months. Kayla said the family 'takes every day as it comes'.

Another carer, 13-year-old Margo Burrow, of Kendal, told the Gazette she was left 'shaken up' and couldn't sleep following the incident last Thursday.

"It's something we had been looking forward to and it's our one chance to have a bit of fun," she added. "These holidays are really important and it's nice to get away and see your friends."

The kind-hearted teenager had shelled out £50 for a teddy bear to surprise her four-year-old brother Dylan, who has autism and epilepsy.

And an expensive camera and much-loved Stetson hat was stolen from 16-year-old Chris Hall's suitcase.

Since the age of seven, the Haverthwaite teenager has been caring for his wheelchair-bound mother who has multiple sclerosis and a damaged spine.

Young carer Susanne Hall said: "Young Carers gives us a break from the often stressful situations that some of us find ourselves in at home and while the things we did on the trip were still amazing, those memories have been overshadowed by the panic and upset."

Now South Lakeland Carers is appealing to the goodwill of businesses in the community to offer support.

Ms Finch said she hoped some of the stolen items could be replaced or another treat could be organised for the group to reassure the teens that people really do care.

She added that despite a call to Greater Manchester Police, officers did not attend - prompting the carers to feel they 'just weren't important enough'.

"We want people to recognise what these young people have been through," she said.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said an investigation into the break-in was ongoing.