A Wickford doctor today warned residents to show some community spirit or lose their vandal-hit surgery.

Dr John Harriott said people must keep their eyes and ears open to prevent the hooligans from striking again.

Otherwise staff would have no choice but to close the Franklins Way branch surgery.

Dr Harriott spoke out after the latest vandalism attack on the building.

Staff arrived on Monday to discover a window smashed and a built-in extractor fan shoved through into the nurses' room to leave a gaping hole in an outside wall.

Bricks and wood had been thrown through and overflow pipes were also damaged. The attack is the latest in a long line of incidents over the past few months.

Staff believe vandals chose the building as an easy target because it only operates in the mornings as a service to people who can't travel to the main Robert Frew surgery, recently opened on the Wick estate.

Dr Harriott said staff were fed-up with the attacks and there was a very real danger the surgery would close.

He said: "We are in a residential area and I'm disappointed no-one heard anything. The vandals must have made a lot of noise.

"We keep this surgery open to provide a presence for residents who have transport problems. There needs to be some sense of community spirit to help us stop this vandalism.

"We are already suffering a significant drop in income by keeping this surgery open and maintaining it and we can't continue to absorb the extra cost of vandalism."

Dr Harriott said people living opposite the surgery had a clear view of the building and should easily be able to spot any trouble and contact the police.

He added: "When I was a young kid it would never have crossed my mind to vandalise a doctor's surgery."

PC Karen Laycock, from Basildon police, said the attack was under investigation.

Anyone with information should call officers on 01268 532212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Watch out - Dr Harriot says the surgery will close if the community can't protect it from vandals

Picture: NICK ANSELL

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