MINDLESS vandals have been condemned by two Devizes business owners who have had their property damaged by late night thugs.

Both restaurant owner Philip O'Shea and pub owner Malcolm Shipp are furious that time and money has been wasted because of the unconnected vandalism sprees.

Mr O'Shea who owns the Peppermill bistro and restaurant in St John's Street has installed CCTV after eggs were thrown at his building on three separate occasions during the early hours of the morning.

And Mr Shipp, who owns the nearby Vaults pub, is angry that he has had to pay for a van to be repaired after it was one of three vehicles smashed up while it was parked.

Mr O'Shea said: "The egg throwing has been happening for about three weeks on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights. We reckon it must happen about 4am in the morning.

"It has mainly been the windows but some have also been thrown at my car.

"I have no idea who it could be as I don't think I have upset anyone. It is not very nice for my staff to have to deal with this sort of mess."

He said he has reported the incidents to the police and thought they may have been captured on the town's CCTV system.

He said: "I am having my own CCTV installed now to try and put a stop to this or find out who is behind it."

A spokesman for Wiltshire police said: "Wiltshire Police are aware of a number of incidents of criminal damage at the Peppermill Hotel in St John Street in recent weeks during the early hours on Thurs, Fri and Saturdays and are carrying out further enquiries, including CCTV analysis.

Mr Shipp, who also owns Kennet & Avon Brewery in Melksham, had one of his vans attacked after it was parked by a member of staff in Rotherstone, Devizes on February 17.

He said: "It is just mindless vandalism. There was a sat nav and other items in the van but nothing was taken so it appears they just wanted to cause damage for the sake of it. It has cost me money to get the van repaired. It is hard enough as it is being in the beer trade at the moment without this sort of thing happening."

Police community support officer Sue Ellway said: “We are appealing for witnesses or information following an incident of criminal damage near to Rotherstone. A man was seen near to the area in a black Ford Fiesta.

"The male exited his vehicle and appeared to smash the windows of a parked unattended van and two cars. The male then got back into his vehicle and drove away in the direction of Waiblingen Way in Devizes.