The Newhaven Coastwatch lookout on the cliff top at Castle Hill had its windows smashed by yobs on Saturday evening.

Operations manager Cass Vanderveldt said: 'I got a phone call about 7.20am to say could I come to the lookout to see what has been going on.

'When I got there I was confronted with glass all over the place. The three front windows were all broken and another three were also smashed.

'Some of the rocks were quite big that were thrown up there.

'They were not able to get in the building because it was all locked up. It is just pure vandalism.'

Mr Vanderveldt said members had taken part in a fundraising event earlier that day where they raised £400.

'The excess for the insurance is £350, so all that money raised has gone straight out the window.

'We are struggling to get money to keep us running as it is. We do not need this.'

Mr Vanderveldt said they had covered the windows in perspex and were awaiting quotes to fit high quality glass to ensure the same thing did not happen again.

Despite the vandalism, volunteers were still in the tower on Sunday morning carrying out their duties.

Coastwatch keeps an eye on the waters from Newhaven along to Seaford and is run entirely by volunteers.

The National Coastwatch Institution, which is country-wide, took over a number of disused towers from the Coastguard after government cuts forced the service to pull out of many areas.

The organisation is now asking walkers, dog owners and other passers-by to keep an eye out for any trouble at the lookout to make sure the same thing does not happen again.

They are also seeking donations and fundraisers to help keep them running and make up for the money lost to the vandalism. Police are appealing for witnesses to what happened.

Contact Newhaven Police on 0845 60 70 999 extension 62061 or via the Sussex police website.