Owners have called for action to save their beach huts from vandals following an arson attack.

The wooden hut on the beach front near Uncle Tom's Cabin in Common Road, Shoebury, was found on fire at 9.30pm on Sunday evening.

Leading firefighter Alan Whitford, of Shoebury fire station, said: "Someone had clearly forced the door of the hut and a fire had been started at the back.

"Luckily the damage was not as bad as it could have been."

Beach huts in the area are prized assets, especially as the summer months set in, and are thought to be worth up to £20,000.

Ian Robinson, secretary of the Beach Hut Association which aims to stamp out vandalism on the seafront, said huts were constantly being attacked by vandals.

He said: "It goes in spates, but is always bad in summer. We had almost 20 huts broken into on one night recently - it seems the beach front is descending into anarchy."

Now the association has called for more to be done to protect the huts. Mr Robinson said: "More lighting along the front would go a long way to stopping this problem, as the attacks only really happen after dark.

"A greater police presence would also help but I understand the police have enough to deal with as it is."

Published Tuesday, June 3, 2003

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