By Amanda Durry  March 11 2010

A burglary of vital equipment from the Ashburton Learning Centre has left staff feeling dejected and searching for answers.

A camera, laptop, computer, projector and several smaller items were taken in the raid on Friday night but just adds to their woes, with only five weeks left before they must be out of their building.

Manager Mary Philip said the burglary was something they really didn't need.

"We have been working hard to find a new home but we just can't find anything suitable. We're hoping to be able to stay for longer, as long as we continue to look but at the moment I have a whole pile of options but we haven't found that right place.

"With that deadline looming, the burglary really wasn't what we needed. It's made me really sad because we're a group that helps people out and we have a lot of volunteers who spend their time working with others.

"For this to happen it just makes us a bit uncomfortable really," she said.

That feeling had led to the staff being more security minded and extra security added.

The camera that was taken would be sorely missed and had sentimental meaning.

Mrs Philip said it was a gift from a woman that had been involved in the centre who died.

"At her funeral, they asked for donations to the learning centre and the proceeds of that went to purchasing the camera. It was quite special so it would be lovely to have that returned but we're not holding out hope," she said.

As for finding the right building, that would be an ongoing task.

They were originally asked to vacate the building to make way for renovations by the start of 2010 but were given a reprieve until the end of the first school term.

The centre has been in the same home for 28 years and is well known for its work with adult literacy and also with English as a Second Language courses.

Around 200 students attended last year, with many programmes being run one-on-one

"I would like to be able to have a centre where other educational groups can use it as well. We'd like something that's big enough to also possibly be able to have a language school. We really want to open it up and have a vibrant learning centre for Ashburton," Mrs Philip said.