THREE shop owners in Stonehouse arrived for work on Friday morning to face a clean-up operation after windows were damaged.

Delta Nine and Tarmac and Trail in the High Street were targeted as was All Pets in Elm Road.

Glass was damaged at all three businesses and an attempt was made to force the front door at Tarmac and Trail.

Despite causing damage, the offender did not enter the properties and nothing was stolen.

Police believe a hammer was used on the windows.

Officers were called by a member of the public who heard a disturbance in the early hours of Friday morning and a man was arrested.

Richard Redding, an IT technician at the Delta Nine computer shop, arrived at work on Friday morning to discover the damage.

He said: “I actually didn’t notice the window had been smashed until I was inside.

“The police came in and asked me if I had seen our window, it was shocking.”

The business was left with a bill for £800 for the window to be repaired while Tarmac and Trail’s premises is covered by insurance.

Shelley Bragg of Tarmac and Trail, who spent Friday cleaning up the broken glass, which flew almost 11 metres onto the shop floor, said: “We spent the day cleaning up and lost a lot of trade.

“We haven’t been able to open the front door because of the shattered glass.

“It’s frustrating because everyone’s insurance in the high street will increase next year because of the attempted break-ins.”

Benjamin Chambers, 24, from Brighton, has been charged with three counts of an attempted non-dwelling burglary in connection with the damage. He has also been changed with using a motor vehicle without insurance.

Chambers appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Friday and was released on conditional court bail until May 22.