A WELL-KNOWN community trader has hit out after his food and drink kiosk was targeted in a suspected burglary.

Peter Ridge said he was left wondering why he had been the victim of the vandalism after the windows of The Kiosk in Ulverston were smashed in a late-night incident.

The 62-year-old said the costs of repairing the damage could be ‘disastrous’ for his business, which has remained open during the current lockdown.

Mr Ridge, who has run the popular spot on Victoria Road for nearly 18 years, said he was alerted to the damage after a phone call from his daughter.

Nothing appeared to have been taken during the incident, with no cash or valuable items left in the space.

Mr Ridge said: “I got a phone call on Saturday morning off my daughter because there’d been an incident.

“It was a case of getting it boarded up and making it safe to stop any little scums coming back.

“I’m absolutely gutted, disgusted annoyed, and I just think why?”

The trader has been left counting the potential cost of the damage and is waiting to hear whether it will be covered by his insurers.

“Whether this is going to have an effect on us I don’t know," he said.

“If I have to foot the bill it will be disastrous because it will mean having to find the money to cover it.

“It’s just ruining a local small business that is trying to keep going for the community.”

Police said a 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection to a burglary at the kiosk as well as an attempted burglary at pet store West Cumberland Farmers in Oubas Hill, criminal damage to a car window on Newton Road and criminal damage to Sir John Barrow Primary school playground.

The incidents have are believed to have happened between 2.30am and 4.30am on Saturday.

“It absolutely ridiculous what’s happening in the town at the moment,” Mr Ridge said.

Police have asked witnesses who may have information about the incidents to contact officers.

Call 101 quoting log number 62 of April 3.