TRADERS were left counting the cost after several shopfronts in Caldicot town centre were smashed by vandals over the weekend.

The three shops targeted – Shaw Trust, Bidmead Cook estate agents, and Store Twenty One – are expected to shell out hundreds of pounds in repairing the damage.

The vandals failed to gain entry to the premises, and no stock was taken from any of the stores.

Sue Blamire, manager at the Shaw Trust charity shop, said that it is not the first time that their windows have been the victim of criminal damage.

"A couple of years ago, the big window at the front went and that cost around £500 to get fixed," she said.

"We can't say how much these windows will cost to get replaced but it will definitely be in the hundreds."

Sue Hayes, retail operations manager for Shaw Trust in Wales, said that all repair costs will come out of the "hard work" of the fundraising staff at its Caldicot branch.

She said: “The money we’ll have to pay out to get the windows replaced is the equivalent of around five hours’ worth of counselling our funding would provide for someone with mental health issues.”

Next door, the door window of Bidmead Cook was put through completely, sending fragments of glass throughout the entire office.

Both sets of employees were in agreement that clarity was needed as to the working condition of the eight CCTV cameras in the town centre.

Despite fears growing about a rising number of similar incidents in the area, local neighbourhood sergeant Nigel Callard allayed such concerns.

He said: "Crimes within Caldicot town have declined slightly over the same period last year and are on a par with crimes over the year as a whole.

"Whilst the incidents commented on have caused alarm to residents – crime is not on the increase over this period. Regular patrols are carried out in the Caldicot area and we will continue to do so."

A Monmouthshire County Council spokesman said that the CCTV control room had been working with the police over the weekend to investigate the reported issues.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: "Sometime overnight between 5.30pm on Saturday, April and 9am on Sunday, April 2 numerous shop doors/windows were broken in Caldicot town centre.

"The damaged was caused by force causing the glass to smash.

"The offences occurred at Store Twenty One, Bidmead Cook Estate Agents and the Shaw Trust.

"No entry was gained into the stores and nothing was taken from inside.

"Enquiries are on-going at this time and anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log number 139 02/04/2017.