Laughing youths branded "feral" by fed-up locals have targeted a small business by setting fires and damaging buildings at its Kent base.

Yobs have graffitied the premises, smashed bottles, smoked cannabis and ignited blazes at South East Motorcycle Training School in George Hill Road, Broadstairs, on a number of occasions in the last month.

A portacabin used by the company for teaching purposes has also been smashed and pulled apart by the louts in recent days, leaving it unsafe to use.

The man who runs the firm, Paul Duval, says the louts ran away and laughed at him when he caught them in the act last week.

"In the first incident, they smashed up the portacabin we had repaired recently through donations from the public," the 52-year-old said.

"It was in mint condition - it was lovely.

"But now they’ve come in and smashed it all up and set bonfires.

"It feels like a kick in the teeth."

The gang visits the property "every other day", according to Mr Duval.

They have started fires on the driving school's tarmac, even bringing their own chairs to "admire their handiwork".

In a video shared on Facebook, Mr Duval said the incidents were "absolutely shocking", before calling the wrongdoers "feral kids".

"We can’t have that tarmac damaged because I teach people to ride motorbikes on it - but now it is," he added.

"We're still able to use it - just - but we’re going to have to repair it, which will cost me thousands.

"They are obviously just bored youths coming in there and smashing everything up and starting bonfires in my yard.

"There are signs everywhere telling them they’re not allowed in there but they still encroach into the area."

The dad-of-two says the "outrageous" damage is "stressing him to death" and "upsetting" his staff and family.

Now he fears what he will find when he turns up for work every morning.

"I shouldn’t have to do this," Mr Duval continued.

"We usually start at nine, but because I’m having to clean up after them I’m having to go into work earlier.

"Once I saw them and they just ran in different directions and laughed at me from the street behind our yard.

"They just thought it was funny - but it’s not funny for my business."

Mr Duval, who lives in Birchington-on-Sea, hopes to see the perpetrators arrested, and made to pay for the damage to his tarmac out of their own pocket.

Police officials have confirmed officers are investigating "two reports of criminal damage" at the premises last month.

"Damage was caused to a portacabin on the site which took place between 5pm and 11pm on February 1," a spokesman for the force said.

"It was also reported that between 5pm on Monday, February 13, and 9am the following day, a fire took place externally and graffiti was carried out to the site."

Anyone with information about either incident should call detectives on 01843 222289, quoting the reference number 46/23650/23.