A FRUSTRATED councillor has called for action after a cafe supporting people in need suffered damage at the hands of vandals during a spate of petty crime.

Hard-working staff at the GO4 Cafe on the Rec, based at the Old Heath Recreation Ground, arrived on Sunday morning to find their store room door smashed in.

Crooks had forced their way inside, with staff believing they were attempting to access the cafe.

Instead, they removed chairs and tins of sweets, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

GO4 Enterprises offers a Pay it Forward scheme, which allows customers to pay extra for a cooked breakfast in order for a homeless person to have one as well.

As well as homeless people, GO4 helps other marginalised groups, such as those recently released from prison and people with low skills.

Pepi Sanchez, catering manager at the cafe, said: "I spoke with the council and we are glad to say they are very supportive and concerned about what is happening around the recreation ground park.

"We are very happy with all the support we receive from the community."

Theresa Higgins, a former Colchester mayor and borough councillor for New Town and Christ Church, said she is growing frustrated at a recent rise in “petty crime”.

The kitchen of the nearby Wimpole Road Methodist Church was destroyed after arsonists set fire to sheets in a fire which also left the hall badly smoke damaged.

The arson attack happened only days after another break in.

The vandalism at the cafe has led to Mrs Higgins calling for a concerted effort to “clean up” the area.

She said: “I am aware of this break-in as I was volunteering for the junior parkrun.

"They couldn’t use the equipment which is stored in that room because of this.

“Thankfully it still went ahead and 98 kids turned up.

“Since this happened there has been a flood of people wanting to have the recreation ground closed at night. It hasn’t been closed for the past five years.

“Closing it is not the issue, people would just jump over the fence anyway.

“There has been a lot of petty vandalism going on in the area.

“Magdalen Hall, the Lib Dem headquarters in Wimpole Road, was tagged with graffiti recently.

"It is frustrating as the owners go home not knowing if their business will be safe the next morning.

“A lot of people use the recreation ground. We conduct litter picks and there is nearly always broken bottles scattered around.

“This is a risk for the children and dog walkers who regularly use it.

“We are trying to get something positive out of this by starting a Friends of the Recreation Ground group, in a bid to get Green Flag status.

“This would bring in more interest and more support for the area.”

Anyone with information can contact Essex Police on 101.