Vandals try to torch cafe

Castle Hill Cafe had newspapers stuffed through the front door and the door and front wall were splashed with white paint in the incident.

Police believe vandals were disturbed at about 12.45am before they could set light to the newspapers.

It is the third incident of vandalism at the cafe in the last four months.

In December, the handle was taken off the front door. In January, the handle was again taken off the door, and glue was put in the lock.

Debbie Smith, 43, who has owned the cafe on Castle Hill Road for 14 months, said she was more worried for the people living in the flats above than for her own business.

She said: "It's not me I'm worried about. I'm not on site. But with people living upstairs if they had set fire to the cafe, god knows what would have happened

"I don't know who could have done this. I don't have any enemies. I have never banned anyone from the cafe.

"It is quite a busy road so I'm just hoping that someone saw something and will come forward."

Miss Smith is determined to prove that she will not be beaten by the vandals.

She opened for business as usual on Monday and wrote a message to the people who splashed paint on her door. It read: "To whom it may concern, may I suggest you start with painting by numbers. It will improve your skills no end!"

Miss Smith said: "I did it because I wanted to prove to them that it is not winding me up. The worst they can do is burn the place down and even then I will just rebuild the place and open up again."

If you have any information about this incident ring Hastings Police on 0845 6070999, quoting serial E1/2833/03.