A MINEHEAD coffee shop has suffered damage put at thousands of pounds after seven windows were attacked.

Costa Coffee’s branch in Townsend Road only opened in January this year.

But between 11.35pm on Friday and 6.10am on Saturday the windows were attacked by a hammer-wielding vandal.

The windows didn’t smash, due to the type of glass used, but hammer dents were left in each one.

Simon Ford, manager, said: “As a team we’d like to thank everybody for the great local support for a locally-run store.”

Graham Sizer, chairman of Minehead Chamber of Commerce, added: “I couldn’t believe it when I passed the shop in the morning – it was as though someone had used a gun.

“We’ve had odd incidents in the town in the past, but nothing on this scale right in the centre.

“I hope the visual imprint on the memory of our Easter visitors doesn’t affect their overall impression of the town. “

All my shopkeepers try to give such a welcoming service and that’s what makes tourists return.”

Cllr Richard Lillis, who works on the Minehead CCTV team, said: “This is such a terrible incident and a vindictive attack.

“The good thing about our CCTV coverage is we have lots of images to help the police.

“Costa has been good for Minehead as a town and it hasn’t made any other businesses lose profit – if anything it has helped the other businesses in the town because of the location.

"It really is such a shame.”

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident.

He or anyone who recognises him can call Minehead Police Station on 101 and quote 38883/14.