A smashed window at the cancer research shop in Malmesbury has caused around £1,000 in damage and loss of business, according to store manager and deputy mayor Jacky Martin.

The incident occurred at 10.30pm last Saturday, leaving a hole four-and-half foot in length by three-and-a-half foot wide in the front window of the charity shop in High Street.

Malmesbury police say the offender, or offenders, then left the scene.

Coun Martin said the vandalism was shocking and reinforced the need to have CCTV cameras in the town to prevent crime.

Coun Martin said: "I spent two hours of my Sunday cleaning up the glass which fell on the wooden floor. The overall total cost is likely to be around £ 1,000 to replace the glass and our loss of business. Around 50 people came in and said how horrified they were.

"I think this incident reinforces the urgent need for CCTV cameras in Malmesbury. With good quality CCTV we would be able to recognise the people who did the damage. It could help find them. Youths are not going to cause chaos if there are cameras watching them.'

Coun Martin added that beer cans had been found in Priory Lane, nearby the shop .

In her view this supported the need for an alcohol exclusion zone, which is expected to be introduced this summer in the town, to help the police stamp out crime.