A spree of beach hut break-ins affecting 23 shacks has triggered a police investigation.

The incidents occurred over the weekend to properties on the shoreline around Broadstairs.

In Louisa Bay, 14 were reportedly ransacked overnight on Friday with another broken into in Viking Bay on the same night.

Today in Stone Bay beach hut operators Your Leisure, who lease out many of the affected structures, reported that another eight had been targeted.

A police spokesman said: “Officers were contacted on the morning of Saturday, July 8 and it was reported that, overnight between Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8, a number of beach huts had been broken into near Viking Bay, Broadstairs.

“An investigation into the incidents is ongoing.”

Anyone with information, or CCTV or dashcam footage which may help officers is urged to call 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/122226/23.