Vandals left threatening graffiti in a seafront shop and caused £2,000 of damage to stock.

Threatening messages were written on chalkboards in Ju Ju's Coconut Cafe and Kiosk on Worthing promenade.

Giant teddy bears were ripped open and their stuffing strewn over the floor, pictures were smashed, stock ruined and a freezer lid shattered.

Michael Major, whose wife Julie runs the shop during the tourist season, said he had been in Cyprus on business when the attack happened on Saturday.

Having received a message from police, the couple yesterday went to the shop, near the Aquarena Swimming Pool, to see the extent of the damage.

Aside from "Do you wish you were never born?", "Pigs are stupid" and "I know where you live", most of the graffiti was unprintable.

Mrs Major, 44, was disgusted and unnerved by the slogans, particularly because the attack was the third this year.

She estimated the cost of the damage to be about £2,000 and said: "We sell chalkboards to use in kitchens, or for shopping lists, and they were stood up on the counter.

"The graffiti said, 'This is a personal issue'.

"They have smashed everything that is saleable. I think whoever did it is total scum - they are sick. I'm in shock at the moment. I'm going home to calm down because I'm shaking. We have never had any trouble until this year."

Mr Major, 60, said the previous attacks and a recent fire in adjacent beach chalets, which caused considerable smoke damage to the shop, meant their insurance company had refused to cover them after their contract runs out in December.

He said: "It looks like a gale has gone through the shop. We do not know anyone who has got a vendetta against us.

"It's very worrying and my wife is extremely upset."

A police spokesman said a man had been arrested in connection with the incident.