VANDALS have struck at a charity shop in Frinton.

A gang of youths was seen smashing a window at the British Heart Foundation charity shop, in Connaught Avenue, just before 7pm on Tuesday.

Community leaders have expressed shock at the vandalism and pledged to step up police patrols in the town.

Essex Police reported the youths had been seen smashing the side window to the British Heart Foundation shop.

“Officers attended and searched the area. Inquiries are ongoing to locate the suspects,” said a spokeswoman.

Staff at the shop declined to comment, but a spokesman for the British Heart Foundation confirmed a window at the side of the shop had been smashed.

“We don’t know the cause of the breakage. But the shop is open as normal for anyone who wants to support our heart research by buying goods or donating their unwanted items to us,” he said.

Frinton and Walton mayor Jack Robertson pledged he would look into the matter and see how the six PCSOs serving the two towns could tackle any vandalism or attempted breakin problems.

Frinton town and district councillor Nick Turner called the incident “terrible”.

He added: “Unfortunately, these things do happen and there are a few idiots around.

“Connaught Avenue is virtually the perfect high street.We have people living above the shops and it has CCTV. I understand the PCSOs will be asking the residents there if they saw anything.”