Vandals wreaked havoc at shops in Southend's London Road - a second blow to business which are already facing losses because of roadworks.

The attacks left two shops with smashed front windows - the yobs caused at least £5,000 of damage in the attacks.

The beleaguered traders on London Road claim they are already losing as much as £2,000 a week because of the roadworks outside their shops.

Second blow - the businesses of Mitch Smith and his London Road neighbours have lost money from vandals Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

The work, being carried out by council contractors, has led to blocked off parking spaces and restricted access to some shops. As a result, trade has plunged.

Mitch Smith, of Shirley's Tyres, was one of the shop owners who suffered a broken shop window.

He reckons road workers' failure to cover up paving slabs and rubble left from their work left his shop an easy target for the vandals.

Mr Smith said: "The shopfront was completely cracked and a kerb stone was still stuck in it. There was a pile of eight stones just left lying around outside our shop.

"They weren't covered up or properly fenced in. Even the police said it was stupid to leave all the stones out over the weekend on such a busy road."

Ian Flett, manager of Action Bikes, said: "We had a very large window cracked over the weekend, which will cost £3,000 or £4,000 to replace on its own."

A car parked near the roadworks also had all its windows smashed and the broken paving slabs were still clearly visible inside the car.

A police spokesman confirmed that officers had been to London Road twice over the weekend to investigate separate incidents of criminal damage.

A spokesman for McAlpine, the council's roadworks contractor, said: "We operate safe practices of ensuring all materials are safely stored overnight on our sites.

"We are very sorry that this has happened but we have taken every precaution to prevent it."

Published Wednesday October 23, 2002

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