VANDALS believed to have been armed with metal bars caused thousands of pounds of damage on a night-time rampage around Minehead in which more than 80 windows were smashed. The town's McDonalds restaurant in Vulcan Road is having to pick up a bill for damage totalling almost £9,000 after 11 of its large plate glass windows were destroyed. And around 50 windows in buildings on the West Somerset Community College campus in Alcombe were targeted. The Aquasplash pool and premises on the Mart Road trading estate including Hedley Price funeral directors and Tom Williams Lawn Mower Centre, were also attacked, as well as some properties on the seafront including the Queens Hall and three telephone kiosks at Jubilee Gardens. The trail of destruction, believed to have happened in the early hours of Saturday morning, was described as a "total culture shock" by David Hunt who holds the franchise for the Minehead McDonalds. And community college principal Nick Swann, who was called out at about 2.30am to help deal with the aftermath, labelled it "truly mindless vandalism". Mr Swann has called on the local community to "stand up and be counted" and for anyone who knows the culprits to name and shame them. "This is totally out of character for West Somerset," he told the Free Press this week. The vandals targeted the West Somerset Sports Centre, including Minehead Cricket Club's base, and the college's craft, design and technology block - areas currently awaiting the installation of security cameras. "We have CCTV operating everywhere else on the campus and cameras are due to be installed very shortly around the sports centre and CDT block," said Mr Swann. "I don't believe we were specifically targeted because so many other properties were also victims of this attack but those responsible may well have been aware that cameras were not operating in these areas. "When I saw the mess, it made my heart sink. It's so sad when everyone is working so desperately hard to raise standards. "I know that we are only talking about a very small percentage of people who would do this." "We are doing everything we possibly can to help the police find the culprits and we would urge anyone who knows anything to pass on information. "This is not something we should have to endure and the community should stand up and speak up." Mr Swann said four of the site staff team worked through the night to clear up the mess, board up the windows and ensure the sports centre could open for business as usual on Saturday. "They were absolutely brilliant," he said. Specialist glaziers were called in and, although still being counted, the total cost of the damage is expected to run into thousands of pounds. Staff at McDonalds also pulled out all the stops and managed to open just two hours later than the usual 7.30am start. All the smashed windows were reglazed by 2.30pm. Mr Hunt, who runs two other McDonalds outlets in Barnstaple, only took over the Minehead restaurant in July. "Minehead is such a beautiful location that I just can't believe this has happened - it's a total culture shock and not something I expected at all," he said. "We're just hoping that it won't be repeated." Police, who are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, have been unable to confirm the exact number of premises which suffered damage. But a spokesman for the Avon and Somerset force said CCTV footage from a number of areas was being viewed by officers investigating the incidents. He said two metal bars had been seized in connection with the investigation but it was not yet clear if these had been involved in the attacks. "We believe there might well have been quite a few people around at the time of some of the attacks and we would like to hear from anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously or has any information," said the spokesman. Anyone who can help can contact Minehead police on 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.