A shop owner will have to fork out as much as £400 after windows were damaged by ball bearings he believes were catapulted at seagulls.

Police are investigating after pellets were fired at Bones on Beds in Herne Bay three times in the last six months.

Richard Bones, who runs the Sea Street store, says windows were damaged in the spring and July.

But the 74-year-old decided to call officers earlier this month after a ball bearing came perilously close to hitting one of his workers.

Mr Bones said: “As he was walking out of the shop he heard a loud twang, which happened to be something hitting the doors, and we found a ball bearing outside the shop where the noise was.

“A marble or a pellet hitting somebody from a distance like that could be quite serious. It’s lucky it didn’t.”

On the first two occasions, the businessman says the ball bearings were found lodged between the glass panels of the damaged windows.

'It’s damaged two windows so far and that could end up costing £400. It’s really annoying and unnecessary' - Richard Bones

He thinks they were launched at seagulls congregating on the roof of the former Wahl building, which stands in between the shop and Sea Street.

“I’m assuming that’s the reason. I’ve got no reason to believe it was against me,” added Mr Bones.

“I have no idea why they’re doing it.

“The only thing I can think of is because seagulls aren’t a particularly welcome bird.

“It’s damaged two windows so far and that could end up costing £400. It’s really annoying and unnecessary.”

A police spokesman says officers received a report of the damage just after 10.30am on Saturday, October 5.

They are urging anyone with information to contact them, quoting crime reference number 46/191483/19.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay