Vandals and a bomb - all in a week on the pier

VANDALS have smashed up the newly refurbished pergoda coffee shop at the end of Clevedon Pier.The hooligans climbed on to the pier early on Tuesday and smashed their way into the pergoda, causing thousands of pounds of damage.The attack comes as even more of a bitter blow as a team of volunteers have just finished weeks of work to refurbish the building.Pier manager Linda Strong said: "They broke in overnight on Monday and smashed a large glass panel and kicked in the cupboards."The only items stored in these cupboards are a few biscuits and a bit of tea and coffee."They have also tipped glass and other bits all over the place - it's a right mess."It is so sad because our volunteers have spent hundreds of hours refurbishing the pergoda, fitting new locks on the cupboards, sanding down and repainting the cupboards and worktops and laying a new floor."So much effort has gone into it just for it to be spoiled by mindless vandals."The pier costs such a lot to run each year and every penny is vital for its survival - but we will carry on."The news of the vandal attack comes in the same week as local fisherman discovered a 'suspected bomb' in the water below the pier.A local fisherman took a picture of the 'bomb' and scanned it into his computer to show to Mrs Strong.Mrs Strong said: "It looked very unusual shaped object and the coastguard was alerted."It is also situated very close to where the Balmoral and Waverley dock."I understand Plymouth Bomb Squad and the coastguard will be revisiting the site at the next low tide at the end of the month."A spokesman for Swansea Coastguard, who was alerted to the suspected bomb, said: "The Emergency Ordinance Disposal Unit's advice was to keep the area under observation for any unusual objects being washed up."The object was spotted at very low tide and there is not a lot we can do about it at the moment."When the tides are very low again, it is likely we will send a unit out to see if it is still there.