Volunteers stepped in to clean up after a vandal went on a spree, spraying black paint on eight North Walsham shop fronts.

Eastern Daily Press: Shop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEEShop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEE (Image: Archant)

Volunteers stepped in to clean up after a vandal went on a spree, spraying black paint on eight North Walsham shop fronts.

Police said they were investigating after the damage to the shops in Market Street and Market Place, which was reported to them at 4.30am on Sunday by a street cleaner.

Properties targeted include the newly-opened Walsham Gents barber, the Digital Phone Company, CD Page Tobacconists & Confectioners, Phoenix Vape, Express Printing and Stationery, the Mortgage Point, Kelly's Plaice and the old Hughes electrical shop.

Jack Tindall, manager of Costa Coffee in Market Place, said the culprit was caught on the cafe's CCTV, which was given to police.

Eastern Daily Press: Shop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEEShop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEE (Image: Archant)

Mr Tindall said: 'It looked like just one person with a hood up. It didn't look like it was children. Some spray cans were left in the bin outside. It was quite lucky that we have CCTV as we're a new premises, so hopefully they catch that person.'

He praised Robert Bird and Stephen Keen, the volunteers who cleaned the paint off.

Mr Tindall said: 'It shows great community spirit. We gave them some free hot drinks.

'It probably would have cost the shops a considerable amount to have it professionally cleaned so that was really nice thing to do.'

Eastern Daily Press: Shop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEEShop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEE (Image: Archant)

Barry Hester, town mayor, said the vandal was also caught on town council CCTV, which had been handed to the police as well.

Mr Hester said: 'It's all a bit of a nonsense really.

'Why someone would get up at four in the morning and go out and do that I don't know.'

Süleman Yilmaz, owner of Walsham Gents, said his shop front was quickly cleaned and opened for business as usual on Sunday.

Eastern Daily Press: Shop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint Discarded paint cans can be seen a bin here. Picture: DAVEY LEEShop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint Discarded paint cans can be seen a bin here. Picture: DAVEY LEE (Image: Archant)

He said: 'I came to the shop in the morning and some local people helped me clean it off. It's done now and I hope it won't happen again.'

A Norfolk police inspector said: 'We are aware that a number of premises were sprayed with spray paint in that area police are investigating.

'Anyone with information is asked to contact Norfolk Police on 101 and to quote incident number 90 of February 10.'

Crimes can also be reported to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Eastern Daily Press: Shop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEEShop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEE (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Shop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEEShop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEE (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Shop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEEShop fronts in North Walsham's Market Street and Market Place were vandalised with spray paint. Picture: DAVEY LEE (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Market Square on Sunday, February 10. The paint that had been sprayed onto shops around 4.30am that night was all cleaned off later in the morning. Picture: STUART ANDERSONNorth Walsham Market Square on Sunday, February 10. The paint that had been sprayed onto shops around 4.30am that night was all cleaned off later in the morning. Picture: STUART ANDERSON (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Phoenix Vape in Market Square on Sunday, February 10. The paint that had been sprayed onto shops around 4.30am that night was all cleaned off later in the morning. Picture: STUART ANDERSONPhoenix Vape in Market Square on Sunday, February 10. The paint that had been sprayed onto shops around 4.30am that night was all cleaned off later in the morning. Picture: STUART ANDERSON (Image: Archant)