ARTISTS have been left shocked after businesses and art galleries in Margate's Old Town and along the seafront were hit with insulting graffiti.

Helen Akers, 29, who holds special arts classes for disabled children, turned up outside her Marine Drive gallery to find the word "listen" scrawled across her windows.

She said: "I just couldn't believe it, I was in total shock. Everyone has got the right to their opinion but I can't believe people would do it in this way. Let them show their faces. Why don't they come forward and say what they think rather than doing it in this cowardly way."

Fellow Co-owner Christine Pettet was equally stunned. "It could have been a nicer colour and the letters could have been more professionally done," she said.

The World Bar, in Margate's Old Town, was also hit with the words "art is crap" while an unused building currently housing art from the University of Kent was also vandalised. branded. "crap."

Ms Akers said: "It was meant to look better than all the white windows and rubbish that was piling up inside. We cleaned it all up and put the dragon by an artist called Beth, who works under the name of the Whole Hog, in the window to brighten it up."

Art For All, run by Helen and her gallery co-owner Christine Pettet, have run weekly workshops in arts and crafts, attended by groups from Stone Bay School, Bradstow School, the Royal School for the Deaf and Thanet Mencap, as well as residents from care homes.

Part of their work with the Margate Town Partnership has been a new venture called Windows on the Future, where which has seen local artists createing giant pictures to brighten up empty properties.

A new painting, installed only two days before the attack, by Margate artist Peter Buckey, featured Margate seafront at dusk with the Turner Contemporary in the far corner. A scrawled X was painted over the image with the word "NO" above it.

MTP coordinator Dave Kinnear said the whole thing was disgraceful.

He said: "I'm appalled that someone should be so bigoted that they could deface other people's property just because they don't agree with the views. When you think of all the hard work Helen does with the community – it's just disgraceful."

Cops are now investigating incidents of criminal damage on The Gallery in Marine Drive, World Bar in Market Street, 16 The Parade and the 14-15 Marine Drive.

CCTV images are being scrutinised.

Margate Central PC Terry Vine said: "We would like to hear from anyone with any information, including anyone that may be missing paint from a shed or garage that may have been used for this graffiti."

Contact PC Terry Vine on 07528 989035 or email terry.vine@kent.pnn.police.uk.