Benches and windows have been removed from Victorian-style seaside shelters in a bid to stop them being “smashed to smithereens” by mindless vandals.

Canterbury City Council has made the changes to a pair of the picturesque structures in Central Parade, Herne Bay, after large panels and panes were kicked out of them yet again.

Bosses say the authority shells out thousands of pounds repairing the two shelters – which are between the Bandstand and the town’s pier – each time.

And town centre councillor Andrew Cook says the alterations will make them less likely to be used “for dossing in”.

“They were smashed to smithereens – damaged glass, woodwork kicked out and all that sort of stuff,” the senior Conservative explained.

“They’ve been in a poor state. This vandalism happens twice a season.

“It really is extensive damage being done – the council is spending thousands at a time repairing them. We’re trying this as a different way to lower the level of vandalism.”

This comes as contractors work to restore the shelters following the latest bout of vandalism in the area.

Cllr Cook previously revealed authority chiefs could decide to remove them, if they continue to be bashed apart by hooligans.

He believes another way to end the scourge could be to transform them into kiosks, reasoning they could be “boarded up” by vendors overnight.

But the Tory says the latest changes are “probably what residents would like to see best” out of the three options.

“We’re hoping it works, before we have to take the other alternatives,” Cllr Cook added.

“They’re looking really sharp on the front at the moment.

“Nobody wants to take the shelters away because they look nice, but they don’t look like that when they’re battered to pieces – they look terrible.

“The seats were taken out about a month ago, and councillors haven’t heard a thing about that.”

The shelters – which were first erected on the seafront in the early 1990s – were also targeted in the run up to Christmas.

At the time, Cllr Cook told KentOnline his inbox had been inundated with reports of fights, trespassing and late-night fires on the beach.