THE community has rallied round a Southampton coffee shop after it was broken into for the sixth time.

When 18-year-old Harry Lawrence heard that Mettricks Tea and Coffee House in Southampton’s Guildhall Place had been targeted he set up a gofundme social media campaign to help owners with the repair bill – raising nearly £200 in just over 24 hours.

Harry, from Littleton in Winchester, said: “I know that the excesses are really high for claiming things like that and it’s really difficult for small businesses.

“I like to support local businesses – I prefer to buy a coffee from there rather than Costa and I know Mettricks have a huge thing for supporting their local community.

“I’m hoping that if people hear about the campaign they can just drop a fiver in to support the company because it’s a really fragile time.”

The coffee shop is one of three Southampton branches owned by entrepreneur Spencer Bowman – and the third to be broken into.

The High Street café was targeted twice two years ago, and the eatery on East Bargate just two months ago.

Management took to social media to let customers know of the news, saying they were “heartbroken”.

The message said: “Last night (Monday) it was the turn of Mettricks Guildhall to be smashed into. Mettricks Old Town has been broken into four times in the past two years, and Mettricks Bargate just a couple of months ago - seems to be a rite of passage if you are an independent in this city giving your all to build something a bit better.

“It is often incredibly fulfilling and satisfying being a small, independent, entrepreneurial business.

"And it is often the most lonely, heartbreaking place.

"We have, all of us, put everything we have into getting Mettricks Guildhall open.

"We don’t have big resources (in fact right now we are at our most vulnerable) but we have always made up for that by having a bigger heart and trying just so much harder.

"Right now my heart is feeling pretty broken.

“We work really hard to support our city, culturally, economically - talking it up whenever and wherever we can and taking an active approach and just getting involved.

"Right now, we could do with our city to give us a bit of support back.

“We are open as usual, as usual, as we usually do after a break in - just please excuse how we are looking.”

A fundraising page has been set up and can be viewed at www.gofundme.com/mettricks.

More than 100 Facebook users have left messages of support on the company’s page.

Victoria Ashman said: “Those responsible are a disgrace and should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.”

Police are investigating the latest break-in.