A city restaurant owner says he had his fill of Canterbury after suffering an eighth raid on his premises in seven years.

Sam Deeson of Pork & Co is counting the cost of the latest burglary after intruders broke in and stole cash set aside for staff wages and caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

It happened just before midnight and the thieves were caught on CCTV entering the premises where they stayed for around two hours before making off with a safe..

Mr Deeson says he is now at the end of his tether with the lawlessness on the city's streets. Just five weeks ago vandals smashed his restaurant window leaving him with another bill for the damage.

"It makes you want to pack it all in, " he said. "You work really hard but get to the point when you start reassessing whether it's all worth it."

Mr Deeson says his CCTV cameras recorded the thieves breaking into the front of the restaurant as passers-by walked past at about 11.40am before the intruders cut the connection.

"No one seemed to bat an eye lid or raise the alarm and there are no police on the streets these days. I don't blame them - but there are just not enough about.

"We have been through this so many times. The last time, I actually told the police who it was and they arrested him. But when they got the offender into court, he walked away, despite admitting his guilt.

It makes you think, why bother calling the police."

He also says one of his young members of staff was badly beaten up in the city centre.

"Whatever anyone says, Canterbury is not the place it used to be, " he added.

Police say officers are following up a number of lines of inquiry and are appealing for witnesses who may have been in the area at the time and in the early hours and saw anything suspicious.

Anyone with information should call 01843 222289 quoting reference 08-0143.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.