Tributes left in a shopping centre in memory of a "friendly and kind" homeless man were destroyed by vandals over the weekend.

Flowers, candles and a teddy appeared outside Greggs in Park Mall, Ashford, over the Christmas period where a man known to most as Peter was often spotted.

But they were found scattered across the pavement this morning, with flowers tipped over and a stool they were standing on broken.

A bottle of Coca-Cola which was also left at the tribute had been drunk and the empty bottle left behind.

Today, the memorial was put back together and soil from the plants which was scattered across the path swept up.

But Lauren Golding, who works at the nearby Made in Ashford, says she does not understand why the site was targeted.

"It is awful, I don't see why people feel the need to destroy things like that," she said.

"It could have been a group of teenagers just looking to destroy things, but I don't know why they'd do that."

It is understood the tributes were left for a Polish national called Piotr and was in his late 30s, but no details have been released about the circumstances of his death.

Ashford Borough Council said he first came to the authority's attention in 2020 but regularly declined offers of help.

Earlier this month, Peter was remembered by numerous people in the town centre.

Peter Fry, who runs jewellers A. Simmonds in County Square, said "he always used to smile and appeared to be a friendly man".