Vandals force village post office to close

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http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/resources/images/3366601.jpg?display=1&htype=0&type=mc2VANDALS smashed their way into a village post office causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

The crooks broke into Elmstead Market Post Office, in Colchester Road, in the early hours of Friday morning.

Nothing was taken, but the damage means the shop, which is behind FV Conservatories, will stay closed into this week while essential repairs are carried out.

Ellen Curtis, who runs the post office with her husband, Jason, said: “It was quite traumatic for us when we arrived after it had happened.

“They didn’t take anything, but they smashed the place up.”

Mrs Curtis said the vandals used a crowbar to smash all the windows and to put holes in the walls inside.

She added: “We don’t understand why people would do this. We’re a small, rural post office and we’re only here to help people so they don’t have to travel too far to get a post office service.

“It means we’re having to tell our customers we’re not going to be open for the foreseeable future, which is a real shame. I hope the police catch them.”

Officers were called to the scene after being alerted by the safety alarm, shortly before 5am on Friday.

Anyone with information on the incident should call Colchester police station on 101.