Additional reporting by Davina Jethwa

A topless yob has been caught on camera smashing the windows of eight town centre businesses with a fire extinguisher.

Police gave chase after the man went on the rampage through King Street, Maidstone, yesterday around 8pm.

This morning, the area has been described as looking like a “warzone” as the businesses count the cost of the damage, which in total could be in the thousands of pounds.

In the video, the vandal can be seen bashing in the windows of The Mall shopping centre, as well as Kokoro and Real Eating Company restaurants.

After around two minutes, two officers arrived on the scene and chased the man down Gabriel’s Hill.

The police were called around 7.45pm to reports to a break-in at Sainsbury’s where “extensive damage” was caused to the store’s windows, a spokesman said.

He added: “Within minutes, officers were at the scene where it is alleged the fire extinguisher was thrown at them and damaged a police vehicle.

“After a short pursuit, the 23-year-old man was detained and taken into custody.”

PureGym and Knight Edmonds and Page & Wells estate agents were also affected.

Real Eating Co has had to close today and the automatic doors are not working at the Mall.

David Page, of Page & Wells, said: “There was glass everywhere - absolutely everywhere.

“One of the staff knew from social media. It’s just a complete hassle for us. Every window is smashed. The door is smashed. Some of our interior illuminated fixtures are damaged. It’s huge.

“We are extremely disappointed. We spent the last hour hoovering glass. It’s just senseless vandalism. We’ve had our windows broken before but nothing like this. It’s just violent disorder really.”

Julie Clark, of Real Eating Co, said: “I don’t know when exactly this happened, but I left here at 5.30pm yesterday and nothing had happened then so it must have been sometime after six.

“I'm just relieved nobody was hurt. We’ve been told it’s a fire extinguisher, but what is so annoying is apparently he came from Sainsbury’s and he came all the way along here causing damage and this is the last place he got to.

“I’ve lost today’s trade, I have had to cancel all our deliveries, and I have had to throw away a bunch of food. We’re only a small company, and to lose a few days of trade does make a huge difference.

“Where he got a fire extinguisher from I do not know. We’re an all-girl team here. Had we been in, I don’t know what might have happened.

“The only place that was open was Kokoro, which is why he went in there.”

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: "Police attended an incident at our Maidstone superstore on Sunday evening and we are supporting them with their investigation."

Alex Knight, of Knight Edmunds: “It’s frustrating. You’re trying to get on, you’re trying to run a business - just work from day to day and then Monday morning you come in, have a full list of things you want to get done for the week, and then all of a sudden you have to go shopping around for quotes trying to get new windows fitted.

“We are an independent business, a single branch. It hurts but it is what it is - you just have to get on with it.”