Police are conducting house-to-house inquiries and searching through CCTV after more than 30 beach huts on Herne Bay pier were burgled.

Business owners on the Central Parade landmark spoke of their shock yesterday following the incident, which left all 32 kiosks on the pier's retail village damaged.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses following the incident, which happened some time between 7pm on Saturday and 7am on Sunday.

Police confirmed today that the offenders forced the doors of the kiosks and carried out untidy searches.

Items stolen included a Mac computer worth £800, an iPad tablet worth £400 and a Bluebird studio microphone worth £300.

Cash was also stolen from some of the kiosks during the raid.

Sgt Nick Barton said: "The pier is secured by metal gates but the offenders have managed to gain access and have broken into every one of the small kiosks inside.

"Although individually the property stolen was not high value – apart from the computer, iPad and microphone, which were all stolen from a single kiosk – together it added up to a significant amount.

"Coupled with this is the effect it will have on each and every business operating out of the kiosks."

Crime scene investigators arrived at the pier yesterday to examine the scene.

Sgt Barton added: "We are appealing to anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity at the pier on Saturday nightto contact us.

"We are also asking people to be vigilant and report suspicious behaviour by phoning 101 or 999 if they believe a crime is in progress."

If you have any information about the burglaries please phone 01843 222289 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference ZY/21241/16.