"Huge" cost of vandalism at Glyne Gap

Fences, tables and chairs have been destroyed or burned and the front of the premises covered in graffiti.

A flagpole has been broken and the business sign defaced.

On other occasions youths have been discovered urinating against the side of the building and even on the front door.

Joanna Freeman and Ronnie Nolloth have owned the Cafe On The Beach for just 18 months and have suffered constant problems with vandals damaging their property.

Ronnie said: "I cannot put it into words how angry I am...These kids seem to think they have a perfect right to do these things. They shouldn't be bored - everyone is saying these poor kids have nothing to do but there is a swimming pool around the corner, a bowling alley and a gym."

Joanna commented: "They are not going to defeat us. We will move forward. We won't let them get the better of us. It is just mindless...it shocks me into silence and that doesn't often happen."

Both women say when they arrive in the morning the first job is to check for overnight vandalism and they always do find something. They have had CCTV installed in the hope of identifying individuals leading to prosecution.

They claim there has been occasion when 200 youngsters congregated on that part of the beach and that bonfires are lit near the skateboard park on Galley Hill with youths dragging wood up to keep the fire going.

"The damage to the flagpole was one that really amazed us," said Joanna.

"The top three feet of it was broken and hanging on by a thread - they must have done that by swinging on it, but I really don't know how it was done.

"The financial loss is huge - for instance, we had to take out the fixed tables and chairs that were damaged and we had to replace them with something. We replaced them with tables and chairs we can put away at night, but then we had to extend the storage at the back, so that cost us money. It has a knock-on effect."

The plan now is to stay open on Friday and Saturday evening as most damage is done at weekends.

Ronnie said: "It is like banging your head against a brick wall. You can't move on because somebody out there won't let you. It goes through your head - why are they doing this? It feels personal."