MINDLESS vandals have damaged a string of beach huts along Dovercourt seafront in a wrecking spree - including a charity beach hut for disabled people.

Beach hut owners woke up last Friday to reports their huts had been vandalised by yobs last Thursday.

About seven beach huts along Dovercourt seafront were damaged in the wrecking spree, which included a beach hut purchased only a year ago by Thera Trust East, which is a charity supporting adults with learning disabilities.

It is now the sixth time beach huts along Dovercourt seafront have been targeted this year.

Bridie Marie Stanford, 32, who is part of the charity and has done many fundraising events to pay the charity beach hut’s rent for next year, said she is devastated.

The fitness trainer organised a 12-hour fitness fundraising event for the beach hut, raising about £400 for Thera Trust.

The mum-of-two said she is still shocked somebody would destroy an area which is designated for disabled people, which had a ramp and easy access for everyone.

She added: “I’m absolutely gutted because it’s a new beach hut, it has been open for less than a year.

“It was all locked up and it was a new door, so I’m shocked they got in there, it must have taken some time to get in as well.

“It has a sentimental value in our eyes, we’ve spent the summer painting it and it had games for everyone.”

The Thera Trust’s beach hut was believed to have been broken into at some point during the afternoon, but Bridie said the community has been extremely supportive.

She said: “I’m devastated for the people we support and for all the hard work to get it up and running.

“We will have to do another fundraiser for it and I just can’t believe it. It’s really sad.

“It was purchased through fundraising and it was maintained through donated money.

“But when something like this happens in Harwich, the community is really good, and people come together to support each other.”

A spokesman for the Harwich and Dovercourt Association said another six beach huts were vandalised during that night.

She said: “Four have been damaged before 8pm, that’s when I went down there, but that morning, we found more has been damaged.

“I take it [the attacks] quite personally, because we have three kilometres of sea front, which is an awful lot and we can’t be there 24/7.

“We can only do so much to keep them safe.”

The spokesman said the “mindless monkeys” should go to the gym or take their anger out on a boxing bag and do something with their lives.

“I wish these boys or girls could sort themselves out, because they are ripping the panel off the door, smashing part of the door or kicking the door inside,” she added.

“It is mindless vandalism, and I wish they stopped.”