A tea room owner has been left "furious" after opportunistic burglars broke into his high street shop.

Police are investigating after food was stolen from the Church View Tea Rooms in Ashford at about 5.15am.

Owner Trevor Cook arrived this morning to find part of the front door had been smashed in, leaving shards of glass and wood scattered in the shop.

Mr Cook, 61, has owned the business since buying it as 'The Chilli Bite' in 2015.

He said: "It's as if things aren't bad enough at the moment with the coronavirus pandemic, people choose to wreak havoc and cause damage to steal other people's property.

"I'm absolutely furious that I have been targeted by opportunists."

Mr Cook rebranded the shop into its current appearance last year, in a ceremony that was attended by the Mayor of Ashford Cllr Jenny Webb.

Now, he is left counting the cost because of what he describes as a "senseless act".

He said: "In all honesty, I would rather give people food if they were in need.

"This is an unusual and worrying situation that we are all in, but theft from someone else, myself, who is struggling financially due to the economy and now the impending recession, senseless acts cannot be condoned’

A police spokesman said: "We were called at 6.15am on Tuesday to a report of a burglary in Ashford high street.

"Officers attended and are reviewing CCTV opportunities from the area."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/53283/20.

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