THE owner of a Dovercourt hair salon is hoping to put a positive spin on a senseless act of vandalism at her shop.

Anne Catten was left to deal with more than £3,000 worth of damage after crooks smashed the front door of Ship n Shape in High Street.

Mrs Catten, who has owned the salon since 1981, is now set to hold a competition to get youngsters to decorate the replacement door with a picture promoting tourism in the town.

“I really wanted to turn something horrible into something positive for the town,” she said.

“We want children up to the age of 14 to submit their pictures, which can be whacky or serious – any inventive idea illustrating what we have to offer in Harwich.

“This will just show the criminals of the town that we are stronger than them and we won’t be defeated by mindless vandalism.”

Children have until Friday, September 9 to submit their drawings, which can be dropped off in person at the shop.

The entries will be judged by a panel drawn from the Harwich and Dovercourt Tourism Group, with the winner displayed on the door during October and November.

Mrs Catten added: “A lot of the clients we’ve had in the salon have been coming in for decades.

“They were angry at the break-in and think this is a great idea.”

The winning entry will get a prize up to the value of £50.