A smashing spree across Canterbury is leaving both traders and residents with hefty repair bills.

Mindless vandals have been spotted forcefully head-butting windows on Grade II-listed buildings and have left shards of glass scattered across the ground outside a primary school.

Police are also investigating 19 separate incidents of vehicle crime largely concentrated in Beverley Road, Pine Tree Avenue, Birchwood Walk and Hanover Place since April 1.

Last week, officers linked a string of criminal damage offences on the London Road estate which was thought to have been caused by stone-throwing yobs.

Now, there has been further vandalism in Wincheap and St Dunstan's.

Sandie de Rougemont, manager of the House of Agnes hotel, is one of the traders to have fallen victim to the recent and apparent drunken antics.

"These are acts of random stupidness from inconsiderate idiots who ruin our hard work," she said.

"The leaded glass is hugely expensive to repair - it can easily be more than £500 a go to fix one window.

"I would love to pay my staff more money or give them ice creams every week but, every time I think about doing that, we instead have to pile money on unwanted repair bills.

"Unfortunately they just do not care about some of Canterbury's oldest buildings. People get incredibly drunk and are then unable to control their drunken habits."

Also along St Dunstan's, Westgate Cottage next to the Unicorn pub, suffered from a smashed window. There are also reports of two cars being damaged in Beverley Road in the early hours of Monday morning.

More vandalism has also been carried out at the other end of the city, with further car windows being caved in near to Wincheap Primary School.

Writing on the Canterbury Residents Facebook Group, Carl Burdett, who cleared scattered glass from the pavement, said: "Some idiot has been smashing car windows along Hollow Lane and there is glass everywhere.

"What is sad is one of the cars smashed in had a baby seat in which is now covered in glass. Shows what scum these people are."

Sgt Colette Todd said: "We have increased patrols in the area but would urge vehicle owners to remain vigilant and remove any valuables from their cars or vans before leaving them unattended.

"We would also encourage residents to report any suspicious activity to us so we can catch whoever is responsible."

Anyone wishing to report an incident should do so online by visiting www.kent.police.uk/report or by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.