Criminal damage to flood defence machinery in Sandwich will cost contractors thousands of pounds to repair.

The staff’s portable toilets were broken into, the windscreens of bulldozers and other vehicles were smashed and offensive graffiti was spray-painted over most of the contractor’s site in Strand Street.

Jacksons Civil Engineering has been hired by the Environment Agency to complete vital flood defence work in the town over the next six months.

Project manager Alan Breck said: “It’s £35,000 worth of damage – and the way the doors have been forced open must mean whoever did this was strong enough. They weren’t just kids messing around.

If anyone has any information please contact Detective Constable Daniel Aylett on 101 quoting crime reference ZY/28876/13.

Read the full story in this week's East Kent Mercury.