More than 40 shop windows were damaged after vandals went on a trail of destruction in Southchurch Road, Southend.
Traders were today facing repair bills of thousands of pounds.
Damaged - sales assistant Heather Norris examines the scratches from inside the John James store Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY
The vandals struck in the early hours of yesterday morning etching the firms' windows with scratches and symbols.
One of the worst hit was furniture store John James which had seven of its windows damaged.
Manager Nick Paine said they had already called in a window fixer who said it would cost between £12,000 to £15,000 to replace the large panes of glass in his shop alone.
He said: "The damage is similar to graffiti except these yobs haven't used paint that we might have been able to scrub off they have scratched in their markings and tags.
"We are going to have to replace the windows and it could affect business."
John Newell, manager of furniture and gift shop Bamboo Tiger, called for CCTV cameras to be installed along Southchurch Road.
He said: "This area is quite up and coming with lots of different types of shops and boutiques and it will be a real shame it if is ruined by vandalism."
Contact PC Gavin Freeman, at Southend police, on 01702 431212 or acting Sgt Sian Parry, at Shoebury police, on 01702 293748.
Published Friday, May 30, 2003
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