A Dovercourt businessman has claimed he would sell up tomorrow if he got the chance after the umpteenth attack on his garage.

The Atkinsons survey they damage at their Dovercourt garage

After vandals turned their attention to Smith's Motors in Dean's Close, Mike Atkinson, who has operated his family firm for the past 45 years, said he has just about had enough.

He and his son, Sam, turned up for work at at 7.30am today to discover a scene of destruction.

"Youngsters had pulled up a for sale sign and smashed it through the reinforced office window the only window which is not boarded up as a result of previous attacks," he said.

"They had also tried to try to break in through the doors. There is glass and paperwork everywhere and I have to get the police in before I can start to clear up and get to work."

Mr Atkinson said the damage ran into hundreds of pounds - taking the overall bill into the thousands in recent months.

He added: "It is getting more like Brixton every day and you do not expect this sort of thing in Dovercourt. It makes you wonder if it is all worthwhile and if I could find a buyer tomorrow I would sell up."

In a separate attack wreckers used a grave ornament to smash a historic church window. Vandals threw a concrete vase through a seven-foot leaded window at All Saints' Church, Great Oakley.

The attack is part of an ongoing problem at the church, where damage has cost hundreds of pounds.

Anybody who has any information the vandalism should contact Harwich Police on 01255 241312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002