TENS of thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused to beach huts in West Mersea.

A gang of thieves, armed with bolt cutters, broke into about 30 huts on Victoria Esplanade in the early hours yesterday.

Four beach huts were also burnt to the ground.

Police are trying to track the person who alerted firefighters to the blaze just after 5am.

Mersea and Colchester firefighters discovered four huts were completely ablaze, and flames were beginning to spread to neighbouring properties.

They spent an hour battling the flames using two main jets, one hose reel jet and four sets of breathing apparatus. Their efforts were initially hampered because there were two gas cylinders in one of the huts.

Four huts were reduced to ash and four more were badly burnt.

Firefighters remained on the scene until 8.15am, damping down and ensuring there were no hot spots.

When officers from Colchester police arrived to investigate the suspected arson attacks, they discovered that 27 other huts in the same row had been broken into.

Almost all of the owners have now been contacted, but many do not live in the area and will have to travel to assess the damage.

Sgt Cat Barrie, from Colchester’s southern policing team, condemned the culprits.

She said: “It appears that the damage to the huts was done before the fires were set, and fire crews estimate the fire was started at about 4am.

“This is a huge thing for West Mersea. I think there is a certain amount of intent here. We are desperate to catch the perpetrators.

“This was a malicious and mindless act of vandalism that will have left many people’s summer plans in ruins.”

Sgt Barrie said officers are also trying to track down the person who called the fire service.

She added: “Someone phoned the fire brigade, but didn’t leave their name or phone number. We are investigating that.”

Detectives from Colchester CID are appealing for anyone who saw anything on the beach that morning, or knows of anyone acting suspiciously, to call them.

They are also asking people to remember if someone they know came in late or had clothes which smelled of smoke.

Any witnesses should call Det Con Lee Pollard at Colchester CID on 0300 333 4444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.