Public toilets had to be closed after they were attacked by vandals who caused £600 worth of damage.

The building outside Dovercourt Swimming Pool - which is run by Tendring District Council (TDC) - is likely to remain shut until the end of the week while repairs are carried out.

The site had only been open for a matter of hours before the vandals struck.

They left a trail of destruction which included pulling a new hand drier off the wall, smashing a sink, cracking a pan and setting fire to toilet rolls.

New parts have been ordered but it all depends on how quickly they are received as to when the site will reopen.

The new had drier had only been installed the previous week.

Michael Talbot, Portfolio Holder for the Environment at TDC, said it was a very frustrating and costly start to the new season.

"These toilets were only opened up on Good Friday at 7am," he said. "After the damage was discovered they were closed again less than six hours later.

"This is mindless and wanton vandalism which is very inconvenient for those who want to use the facilities and it will hit all Council Tax payers in the pocket as ultimately they end up picking up the bill as it is paid for out of the public purse."

In 2006/7 the Council spent £30,000 on repairing vandalism. This year, so far, it has spent more than £23,600.

"For everyone's sake I would ask for anyone to come forward who saw anything suspicious in the area of these toilets between 7am and 1.30pm on Good Friday - or if they have information about who may be responsible," said Cllr Talbot.

"It is in everyone's interests that the culprits are caught and punished for their actions and the Council will certainly prosecute if we get the evidence needed to do so."