MINDLESS thugs smashed almost all the windows of a popular seafront cafe during a late-night rampage.

The vandals threw boulders and stones against windows at the Munchies cafe in Greenock"s Battery Park pavilion sometime on Friday night.

Sixteen laminated windows, which will costs thousands to replace, were shattered during the onslaught. Shocked staff were called out just after midnight when the damage was discovered by a police patrol.

They found glass strewn across the floor of the cafe. Shards were thrown onto a children"s creche area which will now have to be replaced.

George Garner, shop owner, said that the vandals had been able to smash the windows without fear of getting caught because there is only one security camera at the pavilion that covers the car park.

He said: 'Security needs to be improved and there has to be a more of a police presence. The windows are laminated but there are no shutters.

'At the moment the police only drive in occasionally, but they need to come round more often.' He added that the vandals have hit him hard as he will have to shut the cafe for up to ten days until the damage is repaired.

George said: 'We kept the cafe open during the winter because we have a commitment to running it as a service for the community and we lost a lot of money.

'This has happened just as we started to make plans for the summer and now we will have to close just as the weather is improving.

'We have been using the cafe as a venue for children"s birthday parties and had one booked in for Tuesday, but unless they want to have it in the dark it will have to be cancelled. Replacing the creche will cost around £500.' The pavilion is owned by Inverclyde Council and leased to Inverclyde leisure, and Munchies rent the cafe space from them.

Inverclyde council will be responsible for the cost of repairs.

Police are investigating the incident.