Vandals smashed a line of shop windows in the latest spate of criminal damage in Newhaven.

Police have agreed to step up patrols after complaints from retailers who said the damage was costing thousands to repair.

Officers have been studying closed circuit television cameras and hope to make arrests soon.

David Allen, acting manager of the PDSA shop in Newhaven Square, said: "This is not a very good advert for the town.

"We have a lot of tourists at this time of year and anyone walking through this part must think they have arrived in a war zone."

Vandals have attacked six shops, including two charity shops, at night.

Glaziers believe the youngsters may have made as many as 20 attempts to smash holes in the toughened glass of some windows.

Boots chemists in the High Street was targeted in the early hours of Christmas Day when a hole was punched in a double glazed door panel.

The vandalism continued with shops being attacked on Boxing Day night and on Sunday.

Mr Allen arrived to open the PDSA shop after the Christmas break to find windows smashed.

He said: "There was glass everywhere, right up to the counter at the rear of the shop. They smashed the windows with some force.

"It took us almost an hour to clear up. This is just sheer pointless vandalism.

"We have CCTV cameras in the town centre but they never seem to be pointing this way.

"We are all hoping police will study the tapes and prosecute whoever is responsible."

Mr Allen said it would cost almost £1,000 to repair his smashed window.

Part of the Peacocks clothes store in Newhaven Square was cordoned off to keep shoppers away from the hole blasted through the centre of its main window.

Manager Jo James said: "All the shopkeepers want to see a greater police presence in this area.

"We find it difficult to believe that even at night, nobody heard anything.

"Youths often hang around the shopping centre all day.

"The truancy officers would have a field day if they kept an eye on this area."

Other shops that have had their windows smashed include Friday Ad, Newhaven Dry Cleaners and the National Deafblind and Rubella Association.

Chief Inspector Bob Gough, district commander for the Newhaven area, said: "We have a number of suspects, including named suspects, and we are pursuing our inquiries.

"Arrests will be made and we will be applying for anti-social behaviour orders.

"There has been an increase in criminal damage in the Newhaven area and we are actively stepping up our high visibility patrols. I am determined to crack down on such vandalism."